(ANSA) - Rome, January 18 - The Bank of Italy said Friday that it forecasts the Italian economy will grow 0.6% this year, down 0.4 of a percentage point on its previous prediction. The central bank said it foresees economic growth of 0.9% and 1% in 2020 and 2021 respectively, while adding that there was a risk of the outlook being revised down.
It also said that Italy may have dipped into recession in the second half of last year.
"After the interruption of growth in Italy in the third quarter (of 2018), the quarter-on-quarter data suggests (economic) activity may have decreased again in the fourth," the bank said. In technical terms, a country goes into recession if it posts two consecutive quarters of negative growth.
Bank of Italy lowers 2019 growth forecast to 0.6%
Down from 1%, economy may have dipped into recession in 2018