Italy’s GDP to fall 1.9% in 2013, Bank of Italy says

(ANSA) – Rome, October 16 – The Bank of Italy in a report on Tuesday confirmed its July prediction that Italy’s gross domestic product (GDP) will fall 1.9% in 2013.

The Italian central bank also said GDP contraction in the third quarter was far more contained than in the first two quarters, slipping just 0.3% in the July to September period. However, third quarter industrial activity in recession-ravaged Italy fell 1.0% – the same as the second quarter, the report said.

Italy is struggling to emerge from its longest recession in twenty years.