Eurozone industrial output fell unexpectedly in April against March in what economists said was a sign that economic recovery remained fragile and the European Central Bank should not accelerate its rate rises.
The European Union statistics office said industrial production in the 12 countries using the euro shrank 0.6 percent month-on-month against market expectations of a 0.5 percent rise, hit by a drop in output of energy and consumer goods.
Output gained 1.9 percent year-on-year, Eurostat said on Friday, well below the expected 3.2 percent. But it revised upwards production data for March.
"These numbers highlight that the eurozone recovery is still progressing gingerly and the ECB needs to tread very carefully on their rate tightening plans ahead," said David Brown, chief European economist at Bear Stearns International.
"The 0.6 percent drop in output in April definitely puts a shot across the ECB's bows over their optimism for stronger recovery this year," he said.
The ECB last week raised interest rates for the third time since December to stem inflationary pressure from high oil prices and credit growth as the eurozone economy accelerates.