- December 23, 2021
- Posted by: Stratford Team
- Category: Business
ROME, Dec 23 (Reuters) – Morale amongst Italian businesses slipped in December as an increase in COVID-19 infections raised doubts about the strength of economic recovery, but consumer morale edged up slightly, data showed on Thursday.
National statistics institute ISTAT’s manufacturing confidence index declined to 115.2 in December from 115.9 the month before, coming in broadly in line with a median forecast of 115.3 in a Reuters survey of eight analysts.
ISTAT’s composite business morale index, combining surveys of the manufacturing, retail, construction and services sectors, fell more steeply to 113.1 in December, compared with November’s reading of 114.8.
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However, consumer confidence unexpectedly edged up this month to 117.7 from 117.5 in November, beating a median forecast of 116.2 in Reuters’ poll.
Consumer sentiment may have been buoyed by more than 7 billion euros of tax cuts set out…
