Trade group Acimall said first-quarter orders were down 2.7% compared with the first three months of 2012, the result of a 2.8% fall in foreign business and a 2.4% fall on the domestic market.
Prices increased marginally by 0.4%, but turnover fell 0.7%. The survey showed 19% of manufacturers reported an increase in production, about one-third said it was stable and 46% reported a drop in work. About three-quarters said employment was static.
“The first evidence is that the strong difference between the domestic market and exports will endure,” said a spokesperson.
“Few operators are confident in the Italian market and increasingly focus on exports.”
An increase in foreign business is expected by 38% of members while 42% predict a fall in domestic orders. The group’s base domestic index of 100 in 2002 scored “a new negative record of 31”.
“The foreign index exceeds 100, nevertheless it is not enough to drive the overall index beyond 79,” the spokesperson said.
