Italy consumer confidence recovers in May but business morale slides

ROME - Morale among Italian consumers recovered against expectations in May after recent declines, but business morale fell to an 8-month low, data showed on Thursday, in mixed signs for the euro zone's third largest economy.

National statistics institute ISTAT's consumer confidence index rose to 93.4 from 90.8 the previous month, well above a median forecast of 90.1 in a Reuters' poll of eight analysts.

The composite business morale index, combining surveys of the manufacturing, retail, construction and services sectors, decreased to 94.1 from 95.1 in April, posting its lowest level since September last year.

The sub-index for manufacturing was stable at 87.9, ISTAT said.

(Reporting by Antonella Cinelli, editing by Gavin Jones)

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This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 1:21 AM.