The numbers of confidence

The optimism among largescale retail industrial and distribution companies is growing, an overall improvement in the economy in general being expected, including an increase in investments and employment: the GS1 Italy/Indicod economic observatory.

For some time now, it’s said over and over again, that in Italy future confidence indicators are on a “modest but clear” rise. They have been measured by, among others, the twentieth economic overview made at the beginning of the year by GS1 Italy/Indicod among its members. Three indicators are emblematic: optimism with regard to the general economic state of the country has jumped from 49 to 88, forecasts of rising employment from 61 to 85 and inclination to invest from 65 to 87. Together they push up general confidence, from 64 to 74 in all enterprise types considered, from wide consumption manufacturing to bulk resellers and retailers.

Everything goes up (prices too)
More specifically concerning perceptions of the last two quarters of 2014, wide consumption enterprises proved more optimistic about the general state of the Italian economy (from 39 to 55), while they are more cautious when it comes to employment projections (50 to 51) and investments (65 to 61). Perceptions and expectations concerning turnover in their own sector saw an increase (perceptions from 46 to 71, expectations from 73 to 90), encouraging an expected reduction in losses or even, in the case of retailers, a reversal in trend from negative to positive (albeit modest) growth (+0.9%). Also on the rise, however modestly, are consumer prices in the sector for all groupings of enterprises considered, with growth expected for the next months as well.

The food industry
This latest overview paid particular attention to the food processing industry and, in particular, it documents Italians’ love of food.
According to 71.6% of respondent concerns (81.8% of retailers), Italy has a strong vocation for “eating well”; also acknowledged abroad. This is related to the principle according to which “eating well means living better”, shared by 68.8% of respondent manufacturers, but only in third place for retail.
For 60% of concerns, both manufacturers and retail, it would be useful to encourage an “Italian model” based on a mix of culture, tradition and modernization, one recognizable abroad. Interventions should also be implemented, aimed at attracting investors and supporting exports (62% of respondents). Source: Tendenze online 6/2015

Note on methodology The survey was conducted electronically in January 2015 at GS1 Italy | Indicod-Ecr.’s association headquarters. The responses have been selected in order to make a representative sample of the sector of wide consumption, stratified according to location, turnover (up to 500,000 euro, 500,001 to 5,000,000, more than 5,000,000 and the ATECO product segment.