Italy

Italy’s 2020 economic growth may be cut if coronavirus effect is significant

cde.news desk 19 February 2020, 15:29 · 1 min read

Passengers arriving from domestic, international and Schengen flights are being ushered into corridors ahead of the checks, to allow Red Cross employees to take body temperatures, at Leonardo Da Vinci airport, Rome, Italy. EPA-EFE/Telenews

Italy’s 2020 growth forecast may be revised down if there is a significant impact from the coronavirus outbreak, Italy’s Economy Minister said on Wednesday.

“The 0.6% (GDP growth for 2020) could be revised down if the coronavirus will have a significant impact and if there is a stronger than expected drag effect of the 2019 GDP decline over the current year,” Roberto Gualtieri said on Wednesday in a interview with Radio Capital.

Earlier this month Bank of Italy’s governor Ignazio Visco said the virus could have a temporary negative effect on growth of “a few decimals of a percentage point”, but that a more significant impact could not be ruled out.

Italy’s economy – the euro zone’s third largest – unexpectedly contracted by 0.3% between October and December.

Italy’s 2020 economic growth may be cut if coronavirus effect is significant

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