Italian Manufacturing Confidence Hits Highest Level Since January 2001

Italian manufacturing sector confidence surged this month to its highest levels since January 2001 on a sharply positive outlook on prospects for orders, the research body ISAE reported April 27. It said its manufacturing confidence index rose to 96.1 from 94.5 in March.

The ISAE said attitudes toward orders "were not negative for the first time since December 2000." The institute also pointed to a positive assessment of current production and inventory levels.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2006