South Italy's GDP has dropped for 7 years, widening gulf, says Svimez

(ANSA) - Rome, July 30 - Industrial development association Svimez said in a report on Thursday that southern Italy suffered its seventh consecutive year of negative growth in 2014, further increasing the gulf with the wealthier north of the country. "(Italy is) a country divided and unequal, where the south is adrift and sliding further and further behind," the report read. "In 2014 southern Italy's GDP was negative for the seventh consecutive year (-1.3%)".