· Italy’s
Business confidence index is in the bottom 30 percent of its range since
1999. Orders are in about the bottom 25th percentile of
their range. Orders for consumer goods are in the bottom 15 percentile
of their range. Investment goods continue to be the strongest of the
sectors and consumer goods in the weakest sector. The last period in
which the business index fell more sharply was in 2001. The index was
last lower in early 2005. Production is extremely weak for consumer
goods and weak for investment goods. Investment goods production is in
the 40th percent of range while consumer goods are in the 11th
percentile of their range.