Investments on the increase

From the point of view of the size of its internal market, Italy is the number four economy in Europe, with an overall level of demand equivalent to approximately EUR 1,200 billion. The nature of the demand is similar to the rest of Europe. Private consumption, which accounts for approximately 60,2% of the total internal demand, is slightly higher than the EU average. This difference is more relevant if per capita private consumption (measured in terms of purchasing power) is considered, as Italian figures are 5,4% higher than the EU average. Gross fixed investments have increased between 1999 and 2002 by 0,7 percentage point of total GDP, reaching levels similar to those of Italy´s European partners.