French industrial production recorded a 0.5% decline in April, further slipping after a 0.4% month-on-month fall in March, data from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies showed.
Econoday had estimated a 0.3% rise in industrial production.
Manufacturing output improved 0.4% after an upwardly revised 0.3% rise in March, lifted by output improvements in food products and beverages as well as transport equipment. Output of coke and refined petroleum products and machinery and equipment goods fell. Other manufacturing was virtually stable.
Mining and quarrying, energy, water supply, and waste management decreased 5.8% month over month, after a 4.3% drop in March, due to exceptionally mild temperatures in April affecting output in electricity and gas.
Construction production rose 2.9%, compared to a 2.3% decline in March.
Over the first quarter, industrial production slipped 0.5%, with manufacturing output down 1.1%.
