Italian consumer edges up in September

Istat index moves from 101.9 points 102

(ANSA) - Rome, September 24 - Consumer confidence in recession-hit Italy has edged up slightly this month, national statistics agency Istat said Wednesday. The agency said its consumer-confidence index reached 102 points in September, up from 101.9 in August. In the first half of the year Italy slipped into its third recession since the start of the global economic crisis in 2008.

The crisis has had a big impact on consumer confidence and spending. Domestic demand has been so week that Italy registered price deflation in August, with an annual inflation rate of -0.1%. Consumer confidence is important because people tend to spend less if they are pessimistic about the economic climate, which makes recovery more difficult.