Eurozone industrial output falls 1.1% in December

(BRUSSELS) - Industrial production dropped sharply in the eurozone in December, official figures showed Tuesday in another sign that the 17-nation monetary union is sliding towards recession.

Output fell 1.1 percent in December after being stable in November, the Eurostat data agency said. Analysts had forecast a drop of 1.2 percent.

In the wider, 27-member European Union, industrial production fell 0.6 percent in December after stabilising the previous month.

December 2011 compared with November 2011 Industrial production down by 1.1% in euro area Down by 0.6% in EU27 [Eurostat]