9/5/2011 00:00:00
Istat data indicate that in March 2011 the seasonally adjusted index of industrial production rose by 0.4% compared to February. On average in January-March quarter the index fell by 0.1% compared to the immediately preceding quarter. Adjusted for calendar effects, the index increased in March in trend terms by 3.1% (working days were 22 against 23 in March 2010). In the first quarter the average production increased by 1.9% over the same period last year. The indices adjusted for calendar effects recorded in March 2011, a trend growth for capital goods (+8.5%) and intermediate goods (+3.8%). Decrease, however, for the energy sector and for consumer goods (both by 1.0%). In trend comparison, the manufacturing sectors characterized by a steeper growth are: manufacture of machinery and equipment nec (+16.5%), metallurgy and manufacture of fabricated metal products except machinery and equipment (+7.0%) and manufacture of transport equipment (+6.7%). The sector that recorded in March, the largest trend decline is the manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products, medical electrical appliances, measuring instruments and clocks (- 8.2%).
