After a long period marked by uncertainty, rising costs, and weaker demand across Europe, Italy’s manufacturing sector is showing renewed strength. New data indicate that Italian industry is experiencing its most positive phase in more than four years, with production, orders, and business confidence all moving in the right direction.
The clearest signal comes from the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), one of the most closely watched indicators of industrial activity. In May 2026, Italy’s PMI climbed to 52.9, up from 52.1 in April and well above the 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction. The result represents the highest reading since April 2022 and marks the fourth consecutive month of growth for Italian manufacturing.
