ROME: Italy will cut its target for economic growth next year to around 0.6%, three sources close to the matter as the government prepares its 2020 budget to be presented to parliament later this month.
The previous target, issued in April, envisaged growth of 0.8%. Growth this year is now seen at just 0.1%, compared with an April projection of 0.2%.
Under an unchanged policy scenario, gross domestic product next year would be around 0.4%, which will be bolstered slightly by growth enhancing measures in the budget, said two of the sources who asked not to be named.
The new targets, which will form the framework of the budget, must be formally published.
The budget deficit will be targeted at close to 2.2% of gross domestic product, two of the sources said, though they added that marginal last-minute changes were possible due to ongoing negotiations with the European Commission.
The 2.2% target penciled in is more likely to be reduced than raised, they said.
