FX.co ★ Italy Business Confidence Unchanged in October

Italy’s manufacturing confidence indicator held steady at 91.9 in October 2026, below market expectations of 92. While manufacturers reported better assessments of order books and production expectations, inventories of finished goods were perceived as increasing, suggesting that demand may not be fully keeping pace with output. In contrast, overall business confidence improved, with the composite index rising to 96.6 from 95.9. The gain was driven by market services, where confidence climbed to 99.6 from 97.1, and by construction, where the index inched up to 97.8 from 97.5. By comparison, sentiment weakened in retail trade, with confidence slipping to 100.7 from 104.3, pointing to a deterioration in conditions in that sector.