In 2019, GDP increased by 0.3% in volume, the lowest growth since 2014 when stationary GDP had occurred. Istat notes this, speaking of a "marked slowdown" compared to the 0.8% growth in 2018. The figure for 2019 is however above + 0.2% of Istat's preliminary estimate, and +0 , 1% provided by the government. The ratio between public debt and GDP in 2019 remained stable at 134.8%, remaining on the historical highs marked in 2018 and 2016. Istat points out. The government, in the update note to the Def, had forecast a level of 135.7%. The tax burden in 2019 rose to 42.4% from 41.9% in 2019. The 2019 figure is the highest from 42.9% in 2015.
In 2019 the primary balance of the public administration, i.e. the difference between income and expenditure before interest payments, recorded a surplus of 1.7% of GDP. The figure is the best since 2013 when it was 2%. In 2018 the primary surplus had been 1.5%. In 2019, value added recorded increases in volume in construction (+ 2.6%) and in service activities (+ 0.3%) while it is decreasing in agriculture, forestry and fishing (-1.6%) and in industry strictly speaking (-0.4%). Istat notes this, explaining that the working days compared to 2018 were the same.
Italy with zero growth in 2020. According to the Interim Economic Outlook, which takes into account the impact linked to the coronavirus, our GDP will drop from 0.2% in 2019 to 0% in 2020, an estimate cut by 0.4 points compared to the previous November estimate. The international body based in Paris instead expects a 0.5% for 2021, unchanged compared to November. For the OECD, not only Italy, but the entire world economy is currently "at risk".