In October, Italian industrial production grew slightly month on month (+0,2%), while yet another drop was recorded on an annual basis (-0,9%). This was noted by the Confindustria Study Center, recalling that in September there was a drop of 0,2% on the month and 1,1% on the year. In the third quarter, the CSC estimates a decrease in activity of 0,6% over the previous one (-0,4% in the second over the first). In October, the acquired variation was +0,2%.
Also this month, orders in volume increased by 0,3% over September and 0,6% over October 2013. Last month they increased by 0,1% over August and 1,6% over twelve months.
For the fourth quarter, the qualitative indicators show substantial stability. In the Istat survey on confidence in manufacturing firms, the balance of assessments on production levels rose again (-21 from -22 in September), reaching the average levels of the third quarter.
Also that on total orders is less negative than last month (-25 from -26) thanks to the domestic component (which improves for the first time since June), against a stabilization of the foreign one on the low levels of September (and the summer months); production expectations are unchanged (balance at 2), while those on orders indicate a marginal recovery.
