Italian consumer confidence index stood at 98.8 in February, improving slightly from January's 98.2, the country's National Institute of Statistics (Istat) showed in a report on Thursday. The figure exceeded analysts' expectations.

According to the report, the economic confidence climate index in the reported month dropped by 1.1 points compared to the previous month and reached 100.2, while the business confidence climate index decreased by 0.9 points to stand at 94.8.

Meanwhile, the manufacturing confidence climate index advanced by 0.2 points on a monthly basis to 87, while the construction confidence climate index declined by 0.8 points to 103.4. The market service climate index was down by 1.5 points month-on-month to reach 97.5 in December, and the retail trade confidence climate index stood at 104, showing a decrease of 2.3 points from the prior month.