Goes on the decline in industrial production in Januaryor. This month the Confindustria Study Center is planning a 0,6% decrease compared to December, when there was a drop of 0,5% on November. In the first quarter of 2012, continues the CSC, industrial activity now records an acquired variation of -0,8%. Contractions occurred in the fourth and third quarters of 2011 (respectively -2,9 and -0,4%).
It widens again (to -20,8%) the distance from the pre-crisis peak (April 2008) and the recovery of activity from the lows of the recession is reduced to +7,1% (March 2009). Average daily production decreased by 4,4% over twelve months in January, against -5,0% in December.
The companies that work on order underwent a decrease in orders in January of 1,7% on December and 4,5% on January 2011. In December they decreased by 2,1% on November and 6,2% on annual basis.
Qualitative indicators from manufacturing suggest weakness in the coming months: business confidence (Istat survey) reached a two-year low in January (to 92,1, from 92,5) and expectations for production (balance to -3, from 0) and orders (to -3, from -1 ). However, assessments on the current level of domestic and foreign orders have made small progress and signs of resilience from the major economies reduce the downside risks.
