Global Scans · Italy · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The Italian economy is already in a fragile state and a now likely period of political uncertainty would be likely to do further damage. In particular, Italy's banking industry is seen as vulnerable to a loss of confidence. Italy could be the next domino to fall out of the EU through increasing populist party support.

• [New] Italy's expected modest acceleration in GDP growth will likely be driven mainly by consumption and investment, the latter fuelled by the upcoming deadline for the EU-funded recovery plan. ING Think
• [New] Italian consumption of machine tools, robots, and automation is forecast to grow by 5.9% to 4730 million euros, with imports rising 6.8% to 1875 million euros. Metalworking News |
• [New] ECB's TPI faces strain as France's debt crisis risks contagion across Southern Europe, with Italy's 138% debt-to-GDP ratio amplifying systemic vulnerabilities. Ainvest
• [New] SpaceX plans the first California rocket launch of 2026, targeting a Falcon 9 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base to deploy the CSG-3 Earth-observation satellite for the Italian Space Agency, replacing the COSMO-SkyMed system. Without cables
• [New] SpaceX plans to launch a batch of COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellites for the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defence from Vandenberg Space Force Base using a Falcon 9 rocket. Without cables
• [New] Inflation is expected to remain steady in the Euro Area at 2.1% in December, in France at 0.9%, and in Italy at 1.1%, while in Germany inflation is expected to slow to 2.0% from 2.3%. Trading Economics
• [New] Euro area unemployment is expected to be unchanged at 6.4%, while Italy's unemployment rate is seen holding at 6.0%. Trading Economics
• [New] The first of the Outrageous Predictions 2026 envisions Italy ready to revolutionize the management of its gold reserves. The Cryptonomist
• [New] Internationally, advisors expect Italy, Greece and Japan to lead luxury travel demand in 2026, followed by Portugal, Croatia and France. International investments
• [New] Cultural and history-led travel features strongly, with 56% highlighting destinations such as Rome and Japan, while 29% expect rising interest in off-the-beaten-path regions including Puglia and the Dolomites in Italy, and the Loire Valley and Bordeaux in France. TravelDailyNews International
• Italy's GDP growth will be 0.8% y/y, and Spain's will be 2% y/y. GMK.CENTER
• In Italy, in October 2026, a ban on the entry of Euro 5 Diesel vehicles in four northern regions - Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, and Veneto will come into force, a year late. trans.INFO
• The Italian government's Macse auction scheme has locked in multi-GW storage capacity for pre-2030 delivery, directly converting policy intent into supply chain demand. Discovery Alert
• By the end of the month, the first Italian trainers could be deployed, while from January 50-100 Italian personnel are expected to be sent to Jordan to train Palestinian police forces, with the option of a later expansion. Decode39
• S. government of Daniel Noboa will continue to struggle with controlling narcoterrorism, fueled by expanding drug flows out of a neighboring Colombia, powerful but fragmented local gangs, and external criminal financiers and coordinators from Mexico's Sinaloa and CJNG cartels to Italy's Ndrangheta. IndraStra Global
• Ryanair will operate hundreds of flights to Pescara, making it easier than ever to enjoy Italy's Adriatic coastline. Travel And Tour World
• The Italian government has implemented enhanced security measures in public spaces, with the threat of terrorist attacks continuing to be a real risk. Travel And Tour World
• Any additional duties on the Italian pasta makers will come on top of the 15% tariff that Trump has placed on most goods imported from the EU into the US. The Guardian
• Long-duration electricity storage is gaining traction, supported by mechanisms such as the UK's cap-and-floor regime and Italy's MACSE auctions, which de-risk debt and enhance financing. Financier Worldwide
• Italian consumption of machine tools, robots, and automation is forecast to grow by 5.9% to 4,730 million euros, with imports rising 6.8% to 1,875 million euros. Machinery Market
• Among last-minute changes, Italy will introduce a levy of 2 euros on parcels valued at up to 150 euros sent from non-EU countries, targeting online platforms such as Shein and Temu to protect its fashion industry from low-cost foreign imports mostly from China. 93-5 The Lloyd | Real Country | Evansville, IN
• The construction work on additional 160 MW solar (51% owned in partnership with Clal) has begun and construction is progressing as planned and is expected to finish by the end of 2026. / Italy GlobeNewswire
• Saudi Arabian Railways is collaborating with Italy's Arsenale Group - creator of luxury trains such as the Orient Express La Dolce Vita - on the $53 million project, which it says will redefine luxury travel with an array of amenities and personalized services. CNN

Last updated: 16 January 2026