In May, Italy's trade deficit improved compared to previous months, worsening slightly compared to 2010. According to the latest Istat data, the figure rose to 2,407 billion, while in the same period last year it stood at 2,268. Exchanges with European countries showed a negative balance of 600 million. The cyclical change is slightly positive (+0,1%) for exports and slightly negative (-0,3%) for imports.
Dynamics deriving from the contraction of flows on non-EU markets (-1% for exports and -2,2% for imports) and an increase on EU markets (+1% and +1,3%). The trend growth in May remains sustained both for sales (+19,9%) and for purchases from abroad (+18,9%). These trends consolidate, in the first five months of 2011, a growth trend of 17,6% for exports and 21,7% for imports. The balance of the non-energy balance is positive, equal to 2,8 billion, and an increase compared to the same month last year (2,1 billion euro).
