Industrial production rebounds in May. The index calculated by Istat recorded an increase of 0.8% on a monthly basis against the -0.5% expected by analysts. Compared to April, the institute reports positive changes in the energy sector (+1.7%) and in the groupings of intermediate goods and capital goods (both +0.3%); the only negative change concerns the grouping of consumer goods (-0.6%).
On an annual basis, a trend decline of 6.9 per cent However, the trend remains negative on an annual basis: the trend decline in this case is equal to 6.9%. The production of motor vehicles in May recorded a tendential variation (therefore compared to the same period of 2011) of 20.9% (data corrected for calendar effects). More generally, the indices corrected for calendar effects recorded negative trend changes in all sectors in May: the decrease mainly concerns the grouping of intermediate goods (-8.7%), but significant drops were also recorded for consumer goods (-6.7%) and capital goods (-5.7%).
Compared to the previous quarter, a drop of 1.9% In the average of the March-May quarter, the index – explains Istat – decreased by 1.9% compared to the immediately preceding quarter. On average for the first five months of the year, production decreased by 6.7% compared to the same period of the previous year. In May 2012, the indices corrected for calendar effects recorded negative tendential changes in all sectors.
More marked decrease for intermediate goods: minus 8.7% In May, Istat notes, the most marked decrease, in trend terms (therefore compared to the same period of the previous year) concerns the grouping of intermediate goods (-8.7%), but significant drops were also recorded for consumer goods (-6.7%) and capital goods (-5.7%). Energy decreases more moderately (-3.3%). In comparison with the trend, the only growing sectors are those of mining (+2.3%) and the production of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations (+2.2%). Still in the trend comparison, the largest decreases are recorded for the sectors of the manufacture of rubber and plastic materials, other non-metallic mineral products (-12.2%), the textile, clothing, leather and accessories industries (-11.5%), the manufacture of electrical equipment and non-electrical household appliances (-9.7%).
10 July 2012 – Il Sole 24 Ore – read on http://24o.it/109mQa
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