Italy’s industrial orders declined in May after climbing sharply in the previous month, figures from the statistical office Istat showed Wednesday.

Industrial orders decreased a seasonally adjusted 2.5 percent month-on-month in May, in contrast to a 5.5 percent hike in April. In March, orders had fallen 0.1 percent.

On an annual basis, industrial orders dropped for the first time in four months in June by 0.5 percent, following a 7.9 percent growth in the preceding month. Economists had expected a 5.5 percent gain for the month.

Industrial turnover also grew a seasonally adjusted 1.2 percent monthly in May, reversing a 0.5 percent drop in April.

Annually, total industrial sales advanced a calendar-adjusted 2.4 percent in May after a 0.2 percent slight fall in the previous month.

The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com