Italian Consumer Mood Falls for Second Month as Factory Confidence Eases

Italian consumer confidence weakened for a second month in August, with the headline index slipping to 96.2 from 97.2 in July and undershooting economists’ consensus of 97.3. The decline suggests households are becoming more cautious about economic prospects as higher borrowing costs and lingering inflation weigh on purchasing power. Sentiment among manufacturers also cooled. The manufacturing business‐confidence index fell to 87.4, marginally below expectations of 87.6 and down from 87.8 the previous month. A broader economic-sentiment measure held steady at 93.6, indicating that while overall expectations remain fragile, the deterioration is confined mainly to consumer and factory outlooks.