ISTAT Releases Italy’s Economic Outlook for 2014 and Beyond

During the last months of 2013, the international business cycle has gradually recovered, though following divergent patterns: economic growth improved in the most advanced countries, while it slowed down in the emerging economies. Against this background, oil price is expected to reach 105.8 dollars per barrel in 2014, and to fall further to 102.3 dollars per barrel in the following year. In 2014, world trade is expected to expand by 4.7 percent in real terms (up from 2.7 percent in 2013) increasing to 5.5 percent in 2015. In this scenario, the euro/dollar exchange rate would reach 1.35 in 2014 with a slight depreciation in 2015 (1.30) and 2016 (1.26).

Italy’s GDP is expected to increase by 0.6 percent in 2014, reaching 1.0 percent in 2015 and growing by 1.4 percent in 2016 in real terms. The recovery will be mainly driven by domestic demand.

Source: www.Businessinsider.com

Domestic consumption is foreseen to increase by 0.2 percent and by 0.5 percent in 2014 and in 2015 respectively (reaching a growth rate of1.0 percent in 2016). In 2014, capital accumulation is expected to expand at 1.9 percent per year, reaching 3.5 percent in 2015 and 3.8 percent in the following years. This reflects softer credit conditions and an improvement in general      economic sentiment.

In 2014, the unemployment rate is foreseen to remain high at 12.7 percent and to decrease to 12.4 percent the following year and to 12.0 percent in 2016.