Italy: Industrial production rebounds timidly in October
Industrial output increased 0.1% in October on a month-on-month, seasonally-adjusted basis, contrasting September’s revised 0.1% contraction (previously reported -0.2% month-on-month). October’s anaemic rebound came on the back of a turnaround in the mining and quarrying sector and of a marginal acceleration in manufacturing output growth. In contrast, output in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning sector declined at a faster pace than in September. Within the manufacturing sector, the production of coke and refined petroleum products, and of computers, electronics and optical products, posted the strongest increases, while the production of pharmaceuticals shrunk considerably.
On an annual basis, industrial production expanded 1.0% in October, following September’s revised 1.4% increase (previously reported: +1.3% year-on-year). Meanwhile, annual average growth in industrial output declined to an 18-month low of 2.1% in October, from 2.3% in September.