Eurozone Nov industrial output down 0.3%

(BRUSSELS) - Industrial output in the 17-nation eurozone fell 0.3 percent in November compared with output in October, reflecting the continued slowdown in the overall economy, official data showed on Monday.

For the full 27-member European Union, industrial output also fell 0.3 percent, the Eurostat agency said.

In October, industrial output in the eurozone was down 1.0 percent and in the EU 0.8 percent.

Compared with November 2011, industrial production in the eurozone tumbled 3.7 percent while the EU fell 3.3 percent.

The sharpest falls in November on a monthly basis were in Slovenia, down 4.0 percent, with Portugal dropping 3.4 percent and Spain 2.5 percent. Estonia posted the biggest gain of 4.7 percent, followed by the Netherlands and Latvia with 1.0 percent each.

On an annual basis, Italy was the worst performer on an annual basis, with industrial output falling 7.6 percent, followed by Spain on 7.2 percent and Ireland 6.6 percent.

Lithuania led the gainers, up 8.9 percent along with Estonia, up 6.5 percent.

Industrial production down by 0.3% in euro area and EU27 [Eurostat]