Manufacturing output in the eurozone was down 0.4% in May compared to April, but a healthier picture emerges when comparing annual figures.
In May 2015 compared to the previous May, production increased by 1.6%.
Portugal did better than the average on both scores.
Output was up by 1% in May over April this year, with growth registered for three months in a row.. This was the second largest rate of growth in the euro region, with only Lithuania performing better. It
Annually, output rose by 3.2% so May this year was much better than last. Portugal also outstripped Spain where growth was 2.9%, Germany’s 2.3% rise, France’s 3% and Italy’s 3%.
Malta was the eurozone’s star, registering growth of 9.5%.