Italian industrial output fell as expected in February after a surge the previous month, data showed on Monday, confirming prospects for continuing but weak economic growth. Output declined 0.6 percent in February from the month before, the third fall in the last four months. January's unexpected jump was revised down slightly to show a 1.7 percent monthly increase, originally reported as 1.9 percent.
The latest data was broadly in line with market expectations of a fall of 0.7 percent, according to a Reuters survey of 14 analysts. In the three months to February output was up 0.3 percent compared with the September-to-November period, national statistics bureau ISTAT said.
Industrial output shows a strong correlation with GDP in the euro zone's third largest economy. Italy saw weak GDP growth of 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter of last year after slowing steadily throughout the year. Most analysts expect the first quarter of this year to show a slight acceleration.
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