Industrial production at peak in February. In this month – communicate theIstat – the figure marked a drop of 6,8% on an annual basis, after -4,6% in January. This is the worst drop since November 2009. Compared to the previous month, however, in February there was a drop of 0,7%, after -2,6% in January.
On average for the first two months of the year, production fell by 5,7% compared to the same period of the previous year. Only in the energy sector is there a tendential growth (+3,3%), while the production of intermediate goods (-10,6%) and consumer goods (-9,6%) collapses. Capital goods recorded a less marked decrease (-1,5%).
In February 2012, the index adjusted for calendar effects shows, compared to February 2011, increases in the sectors of electricity, gas, steam and air supply (+11,0%), computer manufacturing, electronics and optics, electromedical equipment, measuring equipment and watches (+5,0%), the manufacture of machinery and equipment nec (+1,6%) and the manufacture of coke and petroleum products (+0,3%).
The sectors that recorded the greatest declines are: the manufacture of chemical products (-13,9%), the textile, clothing, leather and accessories industries (-12,9%) and the wood, paper and printing industries ( -12,8%).
