Signals suggest GDP rise in third quarter

(ANSA) - Rome, October 20 - Giorgio Alleva, the president of national statistics agency Istat, said Thursday that he expects Italy's gross domestic product (GDP) for the third quarter to be up. "Signals are arriving that make us think that the third quarter should be positive," Alleva told reporters on the fringes of the inauguration of an exhibition devoted to the agency. Alleva referred to "positive data" for "industrial production, exports and construction". Premier Matteo Renzi's government recently revised down its GDP forecast for 2016 to 0.8% from 1.2% after growth was flat in the second quarter with respect to the previous three months.
    The Bank of Italy also said last week that Italy's GDP was set to rise slightly in the third quarter as the country's economic recovery continues "at a moderate pace".