April brought a cold shower to Italian businesses after eight straight months of rises.<br /><br /> ISTAT’s manufacturing confidence index registered a half-point decline, although it remains in positive territory. A Reuters survey of 16 analysts had pointed to a rise in the index.<br /><br /> Consumer confidence was another matter, falling for a second month<br />and more sharply, by two base points back to 105.7, well below forecasts.<br /><br /> However ISTAT’s composite index including construction and services was only marginally down, suggesting uneven growth in the 0.3% posted in Q1.
