ROME — Aiming to ease budgetary pressure and spur growth, Prime Minister Mario Monti of Italy has announced cuts to state spending by the end of the year and appointed an expert from the private sector as a special commissioner to oversee the spending review.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting that broke up late Monday after more than five hours, Mr. Monti said the cuts of €4.2 billion, or $5.6 billion, from more than €700 billion in total state spending were designed to curb the growth of the public sector and reduce inefficiencies.

He said he hoped the cuts would allow him to avoid proceeding with a plan to raise the national sales tax to 23 percent in October from 21 percent, a move that could hurt consumer spending and slow a return to growth.

Mr. Monti has pledged to get Italy’s stagnant economy growing again after passing a €30 billion austerity package, mostly of tax increases and changes to the state retirement system. But his government has been accused by business associations and union leaders of raising taxes while failing to revive growth.