Overview
- Istat reported on Wednesday that industrial production rose 0.5% from March and 1.3% year‑on‑year in April, marking the third consecutive monthly gain.
- Gains were concentrated in export‑oriented, higher‑tech sectors led by transport equipment (+17.8%), pharmaceuticals (+7.9%) and machinery (+6.1%).
- Traditional consumer sectors remained weak, with textile, clothing, leather and accessories down 8.9% year‑on‑year and consumer goods overall contracting.
- Istat noted a calendar boost to the annual comparison because April 2026 had 21 working days versus 20 in April 2025, a caveat analysts say inflates the headline growth rate.
- Treasury officials said the figures support the view that Q2 may record slight growth but the UPB and others warn fragile domestic demand and international risks could limit a sustained recovery and affect fiscal plans.