The CSC research unit of Italian industrial association Confindustria said Thursday that it forecasts GDP growth of 0.5% for Italy this year, 0.1 of a percentage point lower that the estimate it gave in April.
    "Penalized by the difficult global and European situation, growth in Italy will remain low," it said, adding that a 0.1% contraction in the second-quarter of this year linked to a fall in exports was a big factor in the slowdown.
    The CSC also revised down its growth forecast for 2026 to 0.7%, down from the 1% it estimated in April.
    "The anaemic GDP growth expected this year and next makes it necessary to get Italy moving, intervening with the most effective levers available, including by unlocking financial wealth from being parked in non-productive banks," it said, calling for a 2026 budget that "wisely continues along the path of stimulating productive investment - investment that is necessary to revive the country's growth".

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