According to the report from INSEE, in October, the volume of industrial production in France increased by 0.9% after falling by 1.5% in September (revised from -1.3%). Economists had expected a 0.5% increase. Compared to February 2020 (before the first general lockdown), the volume of production decreased by 4.5%.
The data showed that in October, the production of transport equipment increased by 8.8%, offsetting a drop of 8.6% in September. Growth was also recorded in the food and beverage sector - by 1.4% compared with a decrease of 1.0% in September. Meanwhile, in mining and quarrying, energy, water supply, production increased by 0.5% after falling by 0.8% in September. The drop in production was noted in "other manufacturing" - by 0.3% after a decrease of 1.0% a month earlier - and in manufacture of machinery and equipment goods (-0.3% after +0.9% in September).
INSEE also reported that over the past three months (from August to October), the total volume of industrial production increased by 1.2% compared to the same period in 2020.