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Eurozone industrial production sees surprise rise | Eurozone industrial production sees surprise rise |
(40 minutes later) | |
Industrial production in the 17 countries that use the euro rose unexpectedly by 1.2% in August. | Industrial production in the 17 countries that use the euro rose unexpectedly by 1.2% in August. |
The EU's statistics office, Eurostat, said it meant industrial production had risen by 5.3% on an annual basis. | The EU's statistics office, Eurostat, said it meant industrial production had risen by 5.3% on an annual basis. |
The increase may ease concerns that the eurozone is heading back into recession in the third quarter. | |
Economists had forecast a rise of 2.2% on an annual basis, and fall of 0.7% on the month. August's increase follows a rise of 1.1% in July. | Economists had forecast a rise of 2.2% on an annual basis, and fall of 0.7% on the month. August's increase follows a rise of 1.1% in July. |
href="http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/4-12102011-AP/EN/4-12102011-AP-EN.PDF" >In Germany, the eurozone's biggest economy, output fell by 1% month-on-month, but was 7.8% higher than 12 months ago. | |
Meanwhile the Irish Republic, which is implementing an austerity programme, saw its production increase 4.4% in August and jump by 10.1% year-on-year. | Meanwhile the Irish Republic, which is implementing an austerity programme, saw its production increase 4.4% in August and jump by 10.1% year-on-year. |
'Overly flattering' | |
"August's rise in eurozone industrial production suggests that, for now at least, the sector is continuing to prop up the wider recovery," said Ben May of Capital Economics. | |
"But this is unlikely to last. The 1.2% monthly rise in output was much stronger than expected, and was a touch better than July's healthy 1.1% gain." | |
He added: "Nonetheless, the headline figures paint an overly flattering picture of the state of the sector." | |
Mr May said there was evidence temporary factors, such as the timing of school holidays, had been an important factor behind the recent rise in output. |
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