The greatest increase has been in purchases of capital goods, which have a direct impact on the economy’s potential output; this type of investment grew almost 5 per cent last year but is still 14 per cent below the 2007 peak. Italy’s southern regions have also posted growth.
Positive indications, though less widespread with respect to the Centre-North, are nonetheless discernible from the data collected by our branches from local economic operators. The gap with the rest of the country remains wide, with a difference of more than 40 per cent in GDP per capita.