Belgium: Industrial output contracts notably in September
In September, industrial output fell a notable 4.5% from a month earlier in seasonally-adjusted terms, contrasting August’s strong 3.0% increase and marking the largest monthly drop since January 2017. September’s downturn mainly reflected the marked contraction in manufacturing output, particularly of chemical, pharmaceutical and metal products.
In annual terms, industrial production tumbled 3.9% in September, contrasting August’s 1.9% increase. Meanwhile, annual average industrial output growth dipped from 1.8% in August to 1.4% in September, the lowest reading in over two years.