Italians are worried about the country's economic outlook for 2012, with one in every two people pessimistic about the crisis, according to the country's leading business group.

A survey conducted by Conferescenti-Swg said 48 percent of Italians were pessimistic about the situation compared to 33 percent in 2010, while 36 percent expected the impact on their families to be more serious in 2012.

The survey said only 17 percent believe there will be some kind of economic improvement in the near future, compared to 24 percent who had a positive outlook the previous year.

As a result Conferescenti found that Italian consumers have reacted prudently with 83 percent cutting their spending, in particular clothing and shoes as well as home wares and holidays, while only 5 percent increased their spending in 2011.

Italians are also demanding "more courageous" measures to cut public spending and to revive growth, said the organization, which represents over 270,000 small- and medium-sized businesses in commerce, tourism, services and other areas.