Italy's industrial production increased at a faster-than-expected pace in March, but at a slower pace than in the previous month, figures from the statistical office Istat showed Friday.
Industrial production rose a seasonally adjusted 0.4 percent month-over-month in March, slower than February's 0.7 percent climb.
Economists had expected only a 0.2 percent increase for the month. It was the second consecutive monthly rise.
On an annual basis, industrial production climbed a calender-adjusted 1.5 percent in March, in contrast to a 0.1 percent slight decrease in the prior month. It was the first increase in three months.
In the first quarter of this year, total industrial production expanded 0.3 percent from the previous quarter, while fell 0.1 percent from the corresponding period last year.
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