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Bank of Italy cuts Italian 2026 growth outlook on US tariffs, strong euro

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on October 17, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 21, 2026

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MILAN (Reuters) -The Italian economy will grow by 0.7% next year, in line with the government's latest estimate, the country's central bank said on Friday, cutting a 0.9% forecast it made in June due

Bank of Italy Lowers Growth Forecast for Italy Amid US Tariffs

Impact of US Tariffs on Italian Economy

MILAN (Reuters) -The Italian economy will grow by 0.7% next year, in line with the government's latest estimate, the country's central bank said on Friday, cutting a 0.9% forecast it made in June due mainly to the impact of U.S. trade tariffs.

Current GDP Growth Projections

The competitiveness of Italian exports is also being hit by the appreciation of the euro, the central bank said in a quarterly economic bulletin.

Inflation Trends in Italy

The report's forecasting scenario takes into account the trade deal sealed by the United States and the European Union in July which set a tariff rate of 15% on most imports from the EU.

Future Economic Outlook

"We assume that these developments will contribute to a marked slowdown in global trade," the central bank said.

The Bank of Italy left unchanged its forecasts for Italian gross domestic product growth in 2025, at 0.5%, and in 2027, at 0.7%.

The euro zone's third largest economy contracted by 0.1% in the second quarter of this year from the previous three months. The Bank of Italy said it expected a return to a weak growth in the second half of the year.

Statistics bureau ISTAT will issue a preliminary estimate of third quarter GDP growth on October 30.

The Italian government this month marginally lowered its own 2025 GDP growth target to 0.5% from an April projection of 0.6%, and trimmed next year's outlook to 0.7% from 0.8%.

Turning to prices, Italy's average EU-harmonised consumer price inflation rate should come in this year at 1.7%, the central bank said, up from the 1.5% it forecast in June.

The inflation rate next year is seen unchanged at 1.5%.

(Reporting by Sara Rossi, editing by Gavin Jones)

Key Takeaways

  • Bank of Italy cuts 2026 growth forecast to 0.7%.
  • US tariffs and strong euro impact Italian exports.
  • Inflation rate expected at 1.7% this year.
  • GDP growth forecast for 2025 remains at 0.5%.
  • ISTAT to release Q3 GDP estimate on October 30.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is inflation?
Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises, eroding purchasing power. It is typically measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
What is economic growth?
Economic growth refers to an increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over a period of time, typically measured by GDP.
What is a central bank?
A central bank is a national institution that manages a country's currency, money supply, and interest rates, and oversees the banking system.

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