FX.co ★ Italy’s Services Sector Accelerates in August as HCOB PMI Climbs to 55.2

Italy’s services sector strengthened in August, with the HCOB Italy Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rising to 55.2, up from 52.5 in July 2026. The latest reading, released on 3 September 2026, signals a faster pace of expansion in the country’s key services industry.

The move from 52.5 to 55.2 takes the index further above the 50-point threshold that separates growth from contraction, indicating that activity in areas such as tourism, transport, finance, and business services continued to gain momentum through late summer. The data suggest improving demand conditions and a more robust operating environment for Italian service providers compared with the previous month.

The August 2026 figures reinforce the view that services remain an important driver of Italy’s economic performance, as the sector extends its positive run from July into the third quarter of the year.