FRANKFURT (Reuters) - May 16, 2008 07:01 Europeans continued to show only tepid interest in new cars as Italians, the continent’s second-biggest car buyers, stayed away from showrooms amid a weakening economic outlook and a halt in government incentives.

April new car registrations jumped 9.6 percent to 1.42 million vehicles, according to data released by European industry association ACEA, but the gain was merely statistical with Easter falling a month earlier than a year ago.