Italy’s industrial production fell by 1.3% month-on-month in August 2026, reversing a downwardly revised 0.6% increase in July and defying market expectations of no change. This was the sharpest monthly contraction in a year, driven by lower output of consumer goods (-1.2% vs +2.0% in July), capital goods (-0.9% vs +0.1%), and intermediate goods (-1.8% vs +0.2%). In contrast, energy production rebounded (+2.8% vs -1.2%).
On an annual basis, industrial output was flat, after a revised 0.1% decline in July. A strong rise in energy production (+11.5% vs +5.9%) and a recovery in capital goods (+0.7% vs -0.2%) were offset by sharper contractions in consumer goods (-4.4% vs -1.3%) and intermediate goods (-4.0% vs -0.9%). By sector, the supply of electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning posted the largest year-on-year increase (+14.5%), while the textile, clothing, leather, and accessories industries registered the steepest decline (-14.0%).