In addition, even in the area of credit cards, affiliates of retailers such as supermarket chains and independent commercial companies have shown their own strengths in revolving credit. Banks have tried to challenge nonbanks by providing loans with lower interest rates than nonbanks, taking advantage of their low fund-raising costs and solid branch networks.
Savings and young people Historically, the capacity to save has always been a resource for the Italian economy. Last year Italian households’ net wealth was equal to eight times their disposable income, a value that is higher, sometimes considerably higher, than the ratios in the other leading advanced countries.