Italy's industrial output dips in May, annual growth still positive

Italy's industrial production fell 0.3% in May 2026, marking the first monthly decline after three consecutive months of growth, according to data from the national statistics office Istat. On a year‑on‑year basis, output was up 1.1%, indicating an overall positive trend.

The strongest gains were recorded in transport equipment manufacturing, which rose 11.6%, while pharmaceuticals (+3.5%) and chemicals (+3.3%) also posted increases. Energy production continued to grow. In contrast, the textile, clothing, leather and accessories sector fell 6.6%, and other manufacturing, machinery repair and electrical equipment saw declines of 3.8% and 2.6% respectively. Economists note the slowdown is modest but warn that persistent weakness in textiles could threaten thousands of jobs.