ANSA) – Rome, September 2 – Consumer spending rose slightly in July even as the economic outlook remained “weak and full of contradictions”, Italian retailers association Confcommercio said Thursday. Confcommercio said its consumer spending index for July was 0.3% up on June. “It is early to talk about a recovery phase in families’ spending,” the association said, pointing out that “the slight improvement in consumer spending is offset by the third consecutive drop in consumer confidence, with levels returning to those in March”. Likewise industrial production was not showing a decisive recovery and monthly employment figures were fluctuating, the association added. Italy has been hit by its third recession since 2008 and is struggling with high unemployment, especially among youth where over 40% of people aged 15 to 24 cannot find work. The Confcommercio figures for July “show how there is still no recovery in families’ spending,” said consumer association Codacons. The 0.3% rise was to be attributed exclusively to the July sales period across the country, it added.

Sezioni:
• Rassegna Stampa

Aree Tematiche:
• ECONOMIA & FINANZA