The Italian economy expanded for the second consecutive quarter in Q2 following three years of contraction.
The 0.5% expansion marked the highest growth rate since Q2 2011
was a significant improvement compared to the timid 0.1% growth recorded in Q1
Recent economic data, however, paint a mixed picture of the economy at the start of Q3 and suggest that the recovery is resting on a weak foundation
While the PMI reached an over-four-year high in July and consumer confidence increased in August, business confidence fell to a three-month low in August