Milan, Aug. 28 (LaPresse) – In August 2025, consumer sentiment is estimated to have worsened (from 97.2 to 96.2), while the composite business confidence index remains stable at 93.6, according to Istat.
The negative trend in consumer confidence reflects a generalized deterioration across all components, though with varying intensity: future and economic confidence recorded the sharpest declines (from 93.9 to 92.2 and from 98.2 to 97.0, respectively); the decreases in personal and current confidence were more moderate (from 96.9 to 95.9 and from 99.7 to 99.2, respectively).
As for businesses, confidence declined in industry (from 87.8 to 87.4 in manufacturing and from 102.3 to 101.3 in construction) and, more significantly, in retail trade (from 105.7 to 102.8). By contrast, the index increased in the market services sector (from 93.8 to 95.0).
Regarding the components of the confidence indices, in manufacturing production expectations worsened while order assessments improved; finished product inventories were judged to be higher than in the previous month. In construction, a negative trend in order assessments was accompanied by rising employment expectations. In the market services sector, all variables recorded positive dynamics, while in retail trade all components deteriorated, reflecting a widespread worsening of both assessments and expectations on sales in both large-scale and traditional distribution.
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