Italy’s economic outlook is growing dimmer, adding pressure on the government to deliver on its tricky promise of running an expansionary budget while setting aside billions to avoid a planned increase in sales tax.
Finance Minister Roberto Gualtieri is scrambling to put together funding to contain the deficit, avoid economic stagnation and spur growth despite the millstone of high debt that leaves little room for extra spending. Gualtieri is due to present a draft of the budget to the European Commission by Oct. 15, before final approval by year end.
