MNI: ITALY DATA: Flash GDP (Q1 2019) Preview -.......>

MNI: ITALY DATA: Flash GDP (Q1 2019) Preview - 11:00 BST

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- Bloomberg Consensus: 0.1% q/q, -0.1% y/y; MNI Median: 0.1% q/q, -0.1% y/y;

Prev (Q4): -0.1% q/q, 0.0% y/y

- Italy looks likely to have climbed out of recession in Q1, but the economic

outlook remains uninspiring

- Consumer spending will receive a boost later this year from falling inflation

and the introduction of the 'citizen's income' 

- However, with consumers retaining a cautious stance, much of this disposable

income may be saved rather than spent

- The outlook for investment remains muted as banks have tightened their credit

standards and loan demand has fallen

- Ongoing global challenges suggest that external demand is unlikely to improve

substantially enough to make up for fragile domestic conditions

- The volatile political backdrop remains a key source of risk, as do concerns

over the country's financial stability