EC says Italian debt coming down only 'slightly' (2)

(ANSA) - Brussels, February 4 - The European Commission said on Thursday that "after the peak of 2015," Italy's public debt in 2016 will fall "only slightly, in part because the structural deficit is deteriorating". The Commission revised up its 2016 debt forecast for Italy to 132.4% of GDP, compared to the 132.2% it predicted in November. It said Italy's debt-to-GDP ratio will be 130.6% in 2017, up from its previous forecast of 130%. But is also estimated that Italy's debt last year stood at 132.8%, rather than 133% in its November forecast.