French Industrial Production Unexpectedly Declined in April

By Maria Martinez

French industrial production fell slightly in April, missing expectations for an increase, data from statistics agency Insee showed Thursday.

Total industrial output--comprising output in manufacturing, energy and construction--decreased 0.1% in April compared with March. Economists had forecast a 0.5% increase in April, according to a poll by The Wall Street Journal.

Insee upwardly revised the on-month industrial production figure for March to a 1.0% increase from a 0.8% rise previously.

Compared with February 2020--the last month before the coronavirus pandemic hit Europe--total industrial output was down 5.5% in April 2021 in calendar-adjusted terms.

Manufacturing output was down 0.3% in April compared with the previous month. Energy production rose 1.3%, while construction output fell 0.8%.

Write to Maria Martinez at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

06-10-21 0259ET