Source:Insee

10 MAY 2011

INDUSTRIAL output fell -0.9% and manufacturing -1% month-on-month in March pushed down by Capital Goods -2.6% drop, the biggest decline since June of last year as transport equipment slid -4.2% due to other transport equipment similar drop and the automobile industry's -4.3% output gap.

The production of Intermediate Goods by contrast turned positive to +0.1% along with Durable Consumer Goods +0.6%. Output of Non Durable Consumer Goods stayed nearly unchanged or +0.1%.
     
Output of the Food and Agriculture products fell for the second consecutive month, -0.4% as higher prices dented consumer consumption and consequently earlier order books. The production of coke and refinery oil products dropped also for the second uninterrupted month -1.7% as warmer temperatures pushed down demand.

Output of electric-electronic equipment IT and machinery performed equally and rescinded -1% despite IT products-electronic and optical equipment production index rise to -1.5%. Other industrial products output index moved down into negative territory and fell -0.2% reflecting this month gap: the production of chemical products slowed down to +0.8%, pharmaceutical products to +1% while rubber-plastic and non mineral metallic products dropped to -0.7%. Metal and metallic products -0.5% dip resulted from the auto industry's lesser demand. Textile-clothing-leather and footwear climbed back to -0.2% along with wood-paper and printing to -0.1%.