According to the report from the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), in October, the volume of industrial sales unexpectedly increased - by 2.8% after an increase of 0.2% in September (revised from +0.1%). Economists had expected a 0.6% decline. Industrial sales increased by 3.4% in the domestic market and by 1.4% in the foreign market.
The data also showed that in the last three months (through October), industrial sales increased by 2.8% compared to the previous three-month period (through September). Growth was recorded both in the domestic market (+4.0%) and in the foreign market (+0.7%).
Meanwhile, in annual terms, industrial sales increased by 16.9% in October after an increase of 15.1% in September (revised from +15.2%). Sales in the domestic market increased by 19.4% per annum, while sales in the foreign market increased by 12.1% per annum.