In August, a very slight decrease compared to the previous month (-0.2%) for the industrial production index, while net of calendar effects, it remained unchanged compared to the previous year. This was announced by Istat, reporting that, on the average for the June-August quarter, the level of production grew by 1.1% compared to the previous three months. Compared to July, there was an increase for capital goods (+ 0.8%), while the index for energy (-2.1%), consumer goods (-2.0%) and intermediate goods (-1 , 3%). On an annual basis, intermediate goods (+ 4.9%) and capital goods (+ 4.4%) have grown markedly; On the other hand, consumer goods decreased (-5.4%) and, to a greater extent, energy (-6.6%).
Compared to August 2020, the sectors that record the greatest increases are metallurgy and the manufacture of metal products (+ 16.6%), the manufacture of machinery (+ 10.3%) and the manufacture of electrical equipment (+6, 3%). Conversely, the most marked decreases are observed in the manufacture of means of transport (-23.7%), in the production of basic and prepared pharmaceutical products (-20.9%) and in mining (-17.7%).
Commenting on the data, Istat highlights how the slight economic decline comes after two months of growth while compared to February 2020, the month before the start of the health emergency, the level of the August index is 1.5% higher, net of seasonal factors. The similar comparison at the sectoral level shows a decrease for consumer goods and energy (respectively -3.7% and -6.0%), a substantial stationarity for capital goods and a marked growth for intermediate goods ( + 4.6%).