ROMA (ITALPRESS) – The Italian economic scenario marked a sharp deterioration in May 2026, weighed down by the ongoing conflict in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Confindustria Study Centre notes this in the report “Congiuntura Flash”, highlighting how the price of Brent petroleum at $ 105 per barrel is feeding a new inflationary flame and undermining the trust of enterprises and families. According to industrialists, inflation in Italy rose to +2.7% in April (from +1.5% in February), driven by energy costs (+9.2%), pushing markets to expect a rise in rates by the ECB in June. This framework is curbing consumption and private investments: the credit requests from enterprises are in decline and the confidence of families continues to descend, signaling a next stop to the expense for services and non-food goods. In this critical context, the PNRR remains the only key driver for industrial production and GDP.
Confindustria emphasizes that Italy is one of the best EU countries by state of progress: on 29 April 72% of the expected goals and objectives were reached, against a European average of 50%. However, 2026 enters its most delicate phase, with 159 objectives to be completed by August to unlock the tenth rata from 28,4 billion euros. It holds export, increased by +4.0% in the first quarter, despite the collapse of sales towards the Middle East (-52.5%) offset by positive performance in Switzerland and China. Services remain in suffering, with the tourism and transport sector which is affected by international uncertainty and an SME index that remains in the recessive area.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
