Business confidence dropped sharply in Italy this month, the national statistics agency said on Monday, with its closely-watched index falling to 74.6 points from 78.5 points in March. The index showed that businesses in the manufacturing, construction, services and trade sectors were downbeat about the outlook in April, after a two-month political stalemate which thwarted attempts to revive growth in the recession-hit country.

SEOUL, March 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korean manufacturers' business confidence for April rose to its highest level in nine months due to seasonal factors and hopes for the economic recovery, the central bank said Friday. The index gauging manufacturers' outlook on business conditions came in at 80 for April, up from 76 recorded for March, according to a monthly survey by the Bank of Korea (BOK). The index measures manufacturers' expectations for the coming month.

A combined reading of business and consumer confidence in the 17-state eurozone slipped back in March after recent gains, the European Commission said Wednesday. The Commission said its key confidence index in March fell 1.1 points from February to 90 points, reflecting a downturn in the manufacturing and service sectors while consumer sentiment was steady overall. For manufacturing alone, the confidence index shed 1.2 points in March while services, the major part of the economy and which had been on the rise since October, lost 1.4 points on concerns over future orders.

* Consumer spending rises 0.2 percent in January * Income falls 3.6 percent, largest drop since 1993 * Income drop partly due to tax hikes, special factors * Saving rate falls to 2.4 percent, lowest since 2007 * Factories grow at fastest pace in 1-1/2 years in February By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON, March 1 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer spending was tepid in January as higher taxes squeezed incomes, but vigor in the manufacturing sector last month suggested economic growth picked up early this quarter.