Italian industry slows: May production down 0.7%, worse than expected

Over the March–May period, however, the production level increased by 0.6% compared to the previous three months.

On a monthly basis, the seasonally adjusted index rose only for the energy sector (+0.7%), while it declined for intermediate goods (-1.0%) and consumer goods (-1.3%). Capital goods remained stable.

Adjusted for calendar effects, the overall index in May 2025 decreased year-over-year by 0.9% (with 21 working days versus 22 in May 2024), against market expectations of a +0.2% rise, and following a +0.1% increase the previous month. Year-on-year increases were recorded only in the energy sector (+5.3%), while capital goods (-0.2%), consumer goods (-1.8%), and intermediate goods (-2.7%) all declined.

The economic sectors with the largest year-over-year increases were the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (+6.1%), mining and quarrying activities (+5.1%), and the supply of electricity, gas, steam, and air (+4.7%). The steepest declines were seen in the manufacture of transport equipment (-5.6%), production of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations (-5.2%), and chemical products (-4.0%).