Czech Republic: Industrial output contracts for ninth consecutive month in February before coronavirus’ hit
Industrial production dipped 0.9% year-on-year in working-day adjusted terms in February, which followed the 1.3% drop recorded in January and marked the ninth consecutive month of decline. The softer downturn was primarily driven by a rebound in manufacturing output, particularly of electrical equipment. Meanwhile, the mining and quarrying, and the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply sectors continued to shrink in February, and at a much sharper rate than in the previous month.
In seasonally-adjusted month-on-month terms, industrial output slipped 0.3% in February, contrasting January’s 1.2% increase. Lastly, the annual average variation in industrial production dipped to minus 0.7% from 0.5% in January.