(refiling with byline)
(By Laura Clarke)
Italians' economic satisfaction
reached the highest level for four years in 2015 amid a return
to growth after a long recession, national statistics agency
Istat said Thursday.
The percentage of Italians that are satisfied with their
economic situation has risen from 43.4% in 2014 to 47.5% this
year, the highest level since 2011, the agency added.
The upturn comes as Italy has emerged from the deepest and
longest recession since the Second World War.
The percentage of families that rate their economic
situation as unchanged or improved has risen from 52.1% in 2014
to 57.3% this year, Istat said.
Overall life satisfaction among Italians averages 6.8 out
of 10, the same as in 2012.
Some 35.1% of Italians gave a rating of eight or above and
4.5% a rating of three or less.
These figures are unchanged from last year.
Instead fear of crime has reached a record high in 2015,
with 41.1% of families reportedly concerned.
This is the highest level registered since records began
and more than 10 percentage points up on last year, Istat said.
In 2015 fears over criminality have overtaken concerns
about traffic (38.4%), pollution (36.7%) and parking
difficulties (37.3%), which took first place last year.
The level of concern varies according to geographical area,
with the highest percentages registered in the centre and north.
Growing fear of crime has been accompanied by dwindling
trust in others after two years of growth in this respect.
This year some 78.6% of Italians believe they "need to be
very wary" of others, while 19.9% think "most people are worthy
of trust", the agency reported.
The percentage of people who think a neighbour would be
likely to return a lost wallet has fallen to 69.4%, while just
11.1% say they would expect similar treatment from a stranger.
Water has been a problem in 2015 particularly for families
living in southern regions, where 18.3% say they have had
irregular supplies.
This is the highest percentage since 2010 and well above
the national average of 9.2%, Istat said.
Further, some 30% of families nationwide and 40.2% of those
in the south are unhappy to drink tap water.
The Sicilian city of Messina is battling with a
water-supply crisis after pipelines were hit by landslides.
Residents of Gela, also in Sicily, have also been
protesting about the quality and regularity of supplies.
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