Eurozone industrial production falls unexpectedly in June

BRUSSELS, Aug 13 (AFP): Industrial production in the eurozone fell by 0.3 per cent in June, official data showed on Wednesday, dragged lower by a drop in the output of consumer goods and energy.
The result was significantly below analyst expectations, and the news-the latest sign that recovery of the eurozone economy is faltering-pushed down the euro against the dollar.
Analysts had expected expansion of 0.3 per cent for the period, and the data followed a 1.1 per cent fall a month earlier.
Over 12 months, production in the 18-country bloc was flat.
"This is a very disappointing figure after the already strong contraction in May (caused by additional holidays in some countries)," said analyst Peter Vanden Houte from ING Bank in Brussels.