Home sales, which seemed for a time last year to be starting to slowly recover, have stalled recently, and housing starts are only a little above last year’s low. Moreover, nonresidential building continues to contract amid rising vacancy rates, plunging property prices, and strained financing conditions.
Access to data is suitably restricted within the Bank, and data management follows clear rules on procedures and responsibility. Central banks must also be ready to cope with the increasing demand by the public for access to granular data. As a data producer, the Bank of Italy has always strived to make its statistics available to the widest possible audience.