Istat, industrial production falling in May

MILAN – Industrial production fell. According to data released by Istat , it fell by 0.7% compared to April and by 0.9% compared to May 2024. The average for the March-May period, however, increased by 0.6% compared to the previous three months. The index increased on a monthly basis only for energy (+0.7%), while it decreased for intermediate goods (-1%) and consumer goods (-1.3%). Capital goods remained stable. Among the main industrial groupings, the only sector to show monthly growth was energy.

Even on an annual basis, increases were recorded only for energy (+5.3%). Capital goods (-0.2%), consumer goods (-1.8%), and intermediate goods (-2.7%) decreased. The economic sectors recording the largest increases were the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (+6.1%), mining (+5.1%), and the supply of electricity, gas, steam, and air (+4.7%).

The most significant decreases were found in the manufacturing of means of transport (-5.6%), in the production of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations (-5.2%), and in the production of chemical products (-4.0%).