Rome, July 8 (askanews) – For Italy, the International Monetary Fund's economic forecasts have been confirmed, while "the country's key indicators have substantially maintained the expected levels," albeit weak. As with the overall picture, the risks are "to the downside for economic growth and to the upside for inflation," explained Petya Koeva Brooks, deputy director of the IMF's research department, commenting on the forecasts for the peninsula during the press conference presenting a partial update of the World Economic Outlook.
"The forecast for Italy is unchanged from April. The indicators have broadly held at the levels we expected, albeit weak. We expect half a percentage point of growth this year and next. PNRR investments continue to support activity, but increases in energy and food prices weigh on consumption. Investments have been revised upward – she added – and given the dependence on imported energy, they are expected to remain above target until 2028. The risks are to the downside for growth – she concluded – and to the upside for inflation."
