The Italian manufacturing sector managed to sustain its growth path in March, despite reporting raised levels of uncertainty and steeply elevated cost pressures due to war in the Middle East. Expansions in both output and new orders softened in March, however. To protect against further price increases and in an attempt to build buffer stocks amid supply chain disruption, buying levels were raised for the first time in over three years and stock increased as a result. On prices, both the rates of cost and charge inflation accelerated to over three-year highs. Up slightly from 50.6 in February, the S&P Global ... (full story)