Czech Republic: Industrial production growth moderates in February
Industrial production expanded 2.7% year-on-year in February, down from the revised 5.6% increase seen in the prior month (previously reported: +5.5% year-on-year). Manufacturing production rebounded from a 1.8% contraction in January and expanded 1.1% in February, supported by increased output notably in the manufacture of fabricated metal products; electrical equipment; and machinery and equipment. The rebound in manufacturing offset contractions in the production of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; mining and quarrying; and repair and installation of machinery and equipment. February 2018 contained the same number of working days as the same month a year ago.
In seasonally-adjusted month-on-month terms, industrial output contracted 1.2%, a sharper downturn than the prior month’s revised 0.4% drop (previously reported: -0.6% month-on-month). Annual average growth in industrial production was stable at the prior month’s reading of 6.0% in February.