Euro zone industrial production shrunk by more than expected in September compared to August, mainly due to a sharp fall in the output of consumer goods.
But the figure was still higher than a year earlier, the European Union's statistics office data showed.
Eurostat said output in the 19 countries sharing the euro fell 0.3% month-on-month in September for a 1.7% year-on-year rise.
Economists polled by Reuters had expected a 0.1% monthly decline and a 1.3% annual rise.
Production of durable consumer goods fell the most month-on-month, declining by 3.9%, the data showed.
Output of non-durable consumer goods, such as food or toiletries, also declined by 1%, signalling broader weakness of demand from households.
The production of capital goods, used in investment, also fell 0.3% on the month, today's figures showed.
But compared to September 2014, the production of consumer goods, both durable and non durable, was clearly higher at 2.6% and 2.1% respectively and the output of capital goods was also up by 2.2%.
