Consumer confidence falls to lowest since 1996 Index had never registered worse result

Consumer confidence in recession-hit Italy is at its lowest level since national statistics agency Istat started measuring the public's level of optimism about the economic situation in 1996.

Istat said the index had plummeted from 96.3 points in March to 89 points this month.

Consumer confidence is important because people tend to spend less if they are pessimistic about the economic climate, which makes it harder for the economy to return to growth.