Rome, Sep 10 (IANS/AKI): Italy's consumer spending index climbed 2.1 percent in July from the same period of 2014 -- the biggest annual rise in five years, retail association Confcommercio has said.
The consumer spending index also rose 0.4 percent in July from the previous month, while the number of people in work increased by 44,000 from June, adjusting for seasonal factors.
"Consumption has picked up along with consumer and business confidence. Economic recovery is here although we mustn't lower our guard," Confcommercio's president Carlo Sangalli said on Thursday.