Consumer and business confidence growing, the numbers for August 2026

In August 2026, consumer and business confidence is growing. According to estimates released by Istat, the consumer confidence climate index rises from 94.2 to 94.5, marking the second consecutive increase, while the composite indicator of business confidence climate goes from 95.7 to 96.9. The picture confirms a gradual recovery in economic sentiment, even if, according to consumer associations, the holiday effect, which is destined to end soon, is weighing on the data.

Consumers more confident about the economy

The increase in the general consumer index is supported above all by the improvement in perception relating to the country’s economic situation. The economic climate, in fact, increases from 90.9 to 92.3, with a wider variation than the other indicators considered.

Also growing, but to a lesser extent:

• current climate, from 97.4 to 97.8;
• future climate, from 89.8 to 90.2;
• the overall climate, from 94.2 to 94.5.

The personal climate, however, remains unchanged at 95.4, which summarizes the families’ assessment of their economic and financial situation. From these data it seems that Italians are looking at the general economy with greater optimism, without however detecting significant changes in their personal conditions.

Among the elements that contributed to the improvement were the strengthening of assessments on the general economic and family situation and the reduction in unemployment expectations. Confidence in the possibility of saving in the coming months is also growing. In fact, the balance relating to future savings possibilities goes from -10.6 to -2.9.

In the face of a greater propensity to save, the assessments on the purchase of durable goods remain prudent, the balance of which worsens from -76.3 to -79.1.

Businesses, confidence on the rise in all sectors

The improvement is more evident on the business front. The composite confidence climate indicator reaches 96.9, compared to 95.7 in July. The increase affects all the main sectors monitored by Istat, but with very different intensities.

The most significant result concerns construction, where the index jumps from 96.8 to 102.9. Both assessments on orders and construction plans and employment expectations improve. Employment expectations improve significantly, with the balance going from 2.8 to 10.0. The one relating to orders also grows, from -9.0 to -4.0.

But for the associations there is talk of a “holiday effect”

The holiday climate recorded in the month of August affects the consumer confidence climate index. This was stated by Codacons commenting on the data released today by Istat.

The increase in consumer confidence can be attributed to a general optimism linked to Italians’ summer holidays. The real test, however, will be in September, when Italians will be dealing with the expenses related to returning from holidays, starting with those for school for families with children.

September will therefore be the real test to evaluate the effects of the increases in fuel and energy products recorded in August, as well as the possible consequences on retail prices and family budgets.

Also according to Federconsumatori “optimism is destined to fade”, given that “along with the increases in petrol and diesel prices, increases are coming for schools, heating, energy and food”. The data from the National Federconsumatori Observatory already reveal the following data:

• a decrease in the consumption of meat and fish equal to 16.9%;
• the hunt for offers, or products close to expiring, a habit adopted by 52.5% of citizens;
• the increase in spending at discount stores by 12.2%.

For Federconsumatori, to stem this emergency it is necessary that “the Government decides to also affect the interests of large energy companies (and not only), by applying adequate taxation of extra profits and an increase in the taxation of large financial incomes”.