Factory output across continental Europe's core euro currency zone rose by a sharp 1% in November, compensating for an October blip after a run of growth going back to May. The increase was twice that predicted by analysts.
Nevertheless, official statistics released by the European Union today showed that industrial production in the euro zone was down by 7.1% compared to November 2008.
The respective figures for the full 27-nation bloc, which also includes the last major economy still in recession, Britain, and eastern industrial powerhouse Poland, gave a 0.9% monthly rise and a 6.4% annual fall.
The detailed data showed 1.8%growth across the euro zone compared to October for the production of durable consumer goods like fridges and televisions but a decline of 2.2% for energy.
On a monthly basis, production rose in 16 of the 20 member states for which information was available, but fell on an annual basis in 16 of the 20 with the notable exception of Poland, which saw a 7.3% rise.
Country-specific data for the biggest players showed France recording a 1.2% increase over October after a 0.6% decline the previous month, and Germany posting 0.7% growth compared to 1.8% decline.
Europe's jobless recovery was laid bare last week with data showing that one in every 10 workers across the continent's core euro currency area is now unemployed.
During the same November period, some 102,000 more people lost their jobs - despite confirmation that Europe emerged from recession in the third quarter of 2009, with 0.4% euro zone growth. China also surpassed euro powerhouse Germany as the world's leading exporter for the first time.
