Italy Manufacturing Sentiment Improves Further

Italy’s manufacturing confidence indicator rose to 89.9 in August 2026, the highest level since June 2023, from 89.7 in July and broadly in line with expectations. Despite the improvement in overall sentiment, firms reported a more negative assessment of total orders (-20.4 vs -17.1), driven by weaker expectations for foreign orders (-23.9 vs -22.1). Views on current production also deteriorated (-19.6 vs -17.8), while inventory accumulation increased further (3.8 vs 2.8). Looking ahead, production expectations improved to 9.6 from 4.5, although edged higher to 15.5 from 15.3. Expectations for future employment weakened, with the indicator falling to 1.5 from 4.4. Meanwhile, Italy’s overall business confidence indicator increased to 96.9 from 95.7, supported by improving sentiment across sectors, particularly construction.

Italy's manufacturing confidence indicator rose to 89.6 in July 2026, the highest level since June 2023, up from 88.6 in the previous month, marking a broad-based improvement in business sentiment. Firms reported a less negative assessment of both total orders (-16.5 vs -19.3), reflecting improvements in sentiment of foreign orders (-21.9 vs -24.5). Meanwhile, views on current production strengthened slightly (-15.0 vs -15.7), although still in negative territory, alongside a further buildup in inventories (2.7 vs 1.4). Looking ahead, production expectations improved (3.5 vs 1.8), while inflation expectations eased markedly (15.3 vs 22.0), pointing to softer cost pressures. Labor market sentiment also rebounded sharply, with the employment indicator rising to 4.4 from -1.8. Meanwhile, Italy's overall business confidence edged up to 95.6 from 95.3, supported by stronger sentiment in market services, and retail trade, while confidence in the construction sector weakened.

Italy’s manufacturing confidence indicator rose to 88.4 in June 2026 from 87.9 in each of the previous two months. Assessments of production levels (-16.6 vs -16.7 in May) became slightly less pessimistic, while assessments of finished goods inventories weakened (1.3 vs 3.0) and order books deteriorated further (-19.7 vs -18.6). Looking ahead, manufacturers’ expectations for production (1.5 vs 0.7) improved, while employment expectations weakened further (-1.9 vs -0.8). Inflation expectations eased to 22.5 from 25.3 in May, reflecting moderating cost pressures. More broadly, overall business confidence picked up (95.2 vs 94.2), with confidence in construction (101.7 vs 99.4) and retail trade (105.5 vs 101.3) strengthening, while sentiment in market services edged higher (97.2 vs 96.8).