In September 2018, the seasonally adjusted industrial production index is estimated to decrease by 0.2% compared to August. Even in the third quarter average, the level of production recorded a decrease of 0.2% compared to the previous three months.

The seasonally adjusted monthly index shows cyclical increases in the segments of intermediate goods (+1.1 %) and consumer goods (+0.3%); Conversely, capital goods (-1.6%) and energy (-0.1%) recorded negative changes.

Adjusted for calendar effects, in September 2018 the index increased in trend terms by 1.3% (there were 20 working days against 21 in September 2017). On average for the first nine months of the year, production grew by 1.7% compared to the previous year.

In September 2018, the indices adjusted for calendar effects recorded a significant trend growth for energy (+4.2%) while more contained increases were observed for capital goods (+2.9%) and intermediate goods (+0.8% ); on the other hand, the production of consumer goods decreased (-0.8%).

The sectors of economic activity that recorded the greatest trend growth are the supply of electricity, gas, steam and air (+7.0%), the production of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations (+5.1%) and the manufacture of machinery and equipment nec (+4.5%). The greatest declines were instead found in mining (-11.2%), in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (-4.7%) and in the wood, paper and printing industries (-2.7%).

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ISTAT press release - Industrial production

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS

Seasonally adjusted data

Short-term percentage changes