Inflation, confidence drop hitting growth prospects

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 11 - Rising Italian inflation and a fall in consumer confidence are hitting Italy's growth prospects, ISTAT said in its monthly economic report Monday.
    But business confidence was rising slightly, it said.
    Growth prospects over the next few months "appear to be negatively conditioned by the continuation of the inflationary phase, the deterioration of the trade deficit and the fall in household confidence," said the stats agency.
    "However, the expectations of businesses are still showing contained and widespread improvements", it added. (ANSA).