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Italy business and consumer morale slump in March as outlook worsens

In March, Italy experienced a significant decline in both business and consumer morale, as reported by ISTAT, the national statistics institute. The business confidence index dropped to 104.0 from 104.6, reflecting a downturn in sentiment across various sectors including manufacturing, construction, and retail. Consumer confidence also fell, with the index decreasing to 105.1 from 105.4, marking the lowest level since January. This decline in morale comes amidst a backdrop of economic challenges, including a slight increase in inflation to 8.2% from 8.1% in February, driven by higher energy prices. The worsening outlook is further complicated by political instability and concerns over the economic recovery post-COVID, with fears that Italy might face a technical recession if the current trends continue.

Read the Full Reuters Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/italy-business-and-consumer-morale-slump-in-march-as-outlook-worsens/ar-AA1BPzHi ]