Business confidence leaps, says Istat

(ANSA) - Rome, February 26 - Business confidence in Italy took a sizeable jump this month to a level not recorded since June 2011, national statistical agency Istat said Thursday. Its index measuring business confidence leapt to 94.9 points from 91.6 in January, Istat reported. Across most business segments, confidence increased, the agency said. Retail trade morale jumped to 100.4 from a measure of 94.9 and in manufacturing, the outlook improved to reach 105.3 from 99.4, Istat reported. Only in construction was confidence softer.