Italy industry output falls unexpectedly in March

ROME  – Italian industrial output was weaker than expected in March, falling 0.6 percent from February to register a third consecutive month of contraction, data showed on Wednesday.

A Reuters survey of 20 analysts had pointed to a 0.3- percent monthly rise.

On a work-day adjusted year-on-year basis, national statistics bureau ISTAT said output fell 3.2 percent in March against an analyst forecast of a 2.3- percent decline. February’s month-on-month and year-on-year readings were unchanged at -0.2 percent and -2.3 percent respectively.

In the three months to March, industrial output in the euro zone’s third largest economy was down 0.1 percent compared with the previous quarter.

March saw falls month-on-month in the output of consumer goods, intermediate goods and energy products, while the production of investment goods increased.

Data released late last month showed that Italy’s economy grew by 0.5 percent in the first quarter from the previous three months, a stronger recovery than expected after a slight contraction at the end of last year.

However, a closely watched survey released last week said Italy’s manufacturing sector shrank in April, ending three months of growth, as production and new orders fell and purchasing activity was sharply reduced.