Italian Consumer Morale Unexpectedly Strengthens In December

(RTTNews) - Italian consumer sentiment rose further in December, defying expectations for a decline, results of a survey showed Wednesday.

The consumer confidence indicator advanced to 109.1 from 108.5 in the previous month, the research institute ISAE said, rising for the fourth consecutive month. Economists had forecast the index reading to fall to 108.3. The index has returned to levels seen at the start of the year, the think-tank said.