Industrial production in Italy fell 0.9% in the first quarter compared to the previous one, in an economic context heckled by the war in Ukraine, the National Institute of Statistics (Istat) said on Tuesday.
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In March, production remained stable compared to February.
The index stood at 106, thus remaining well above the level recorded at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. An increase in production was recorded in March for energy (+2.7% ), consumer goods (+1%) and capital goods (+0.4%).
Conversely, intermediate goods fell compared to February (-0.7%).
Compared to March 2021, industrial production increased by 3%, in data adjusted for calendar effects.
Under the effect of the war in Ukraine, Italy's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell by 0.2% in the first quarter compared to the previous one.
Inflation, driven by soaring energy prices, reached 6.2% in April, its highest level since September 1991. The Italian government lowered its growth forecast for this year in April, now counting on a rise in GDP of 3.1%, against 4.7% previously, taking into account the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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Italy's growth had reached 6.6% in 2021, a rate not seen since 1976, which had greatly exceeded government forecasts.
Rome released in early May 14 billion euros in additional aid to mitigate the impact of soaring energy prices on families and businesses.