Italy: Industrial production drops in September
Industrial output shrank 0.2% in September on a month-on-month, seasonally-adjusted basis, contrasting August’s 1.7% increase. September’s downturn came on the back of a notable drop in the mining and quarrying sector and of a marginal decline in manufacturing output. In contrast, output in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning sector increased. Within the manufacturing sector, the production of coke and refined petroleum products, and of electrical equipment, posted the sharpest decreases.
On an annual basis, industrial production expanded 1.3% in September, contrasting August’s 0.8% drop and marking the first increase following two consecutive months of contraction. Meanwhile, annual average growth in industrial output declined to a 17-month low of 2.3% in September, from 2.5% in August.