ROME, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Italian industrial output was much stronger than expected in December, rising 1.6% from the month before, data showed on Friday.

A Reuters survey of 16 analysts had pointed to a 0.1% monthly contraction.

November's data was revised up to show a 0.1% fall, against an originally reported 0.3% drop, national statistics bureau ISTAT reported.

On a work-day adjusted year-on-year basis, output rose 0.1% in December.

November's reading was revised to -3.4% from an originally reported -3.7%

In the three months to December, industrial output in the euro zone's third largest economy dropped 0.9% compared with the third quarter.

December saw a month-on-month a rise in all major sectors of the economy, however there was a wide divergence between individual industries, with the manufacture of electrical equipment surging 27.4% and pharmaceutical production up 18.1%.

By contrast, the wood, paper and printing company delhi industry registered a 15.0% decline and the supply of electricity, gas and air fell 13.8%.

Across the whole of 2022, industrial production posted a 0.5% increase, with consumer goods and capital goods showing gains, while intermediate goods and energy production declined.

Despite the strong input from industry in the last month of the year, Italy's economy as a whole shrank by 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2022 from the previous three months, data released last week showed.

ISTAT gave the following details.

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION DEC NOV OCT Mth/mth pct change (adjusted) 1.6 -0.1r -1.0r Yr/yr pct change (adjusted) 0.1 -3.4r -1.7r Yr/yr pct change (unadjusted) -5.8 -3.4r -1.6 NOTE: BASE 2015=100.

(r) indicates revised figures. ISTAT provided the following breakdown by broad product group in December: adjusted month-on-month percent change. Consumer goods 1.6 Investment goods 3.1 Intermediate goods 0.8 Energy goods 2.6 Keywords: ITALY ECONOMY/OUTPUT

ISSN: 2357-8483

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