Inflation encourages caution but does not inhibit consumption: the confidence index remains average (42%) despite the virus, war, and high cost of living; less pessimistic citizens, fearful of the general situation but confident that their personal circumstances will improve within the next six months. Large expenditures such as appliances and furnishings are deferred in favor of meeting daily requirements. According to a poll on the "state of health" and the consumer confidence index conducted by the Piepoli Institute for the Union for the Defense of Consumers (U.Di.Con.), in the next months customers would focus only on minor daily expenses: clothing (23%), food items (18%), personal care (17%), and domestic goods (10%). Large expenses, such as those for furniture (8%), technology (10%), and home appliances (13%), are deferred until better times. 20% of respondents believe their personal economic condition will improve over the next six months, with a favorable balance between optimists and pessimists in the 18-34 age group (+11.9%), in contrast to all other age groups. The North East is the most pessimistic region (-14.9%), followed by the North West (-12.7%) and the Centre (-10%), while the South and the Islands have about identical levels of pessimism. 41% of respondents think that the economic situation in Italy would deteriorate during the next six months. 42% of respondents believe that unemployment would rise in the next six months owing to the economic situation. 43.8 percent of young people in the South are gloomy about the job outlook over the next six months. Italians, who have a history of foresight, are pessimistic about their ability to lay away funds (58%) while 38% are optimistic.
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