Industrial data increased by 2.1% month-on-month in February, the second monthly increase in a row. On the year, industrial production was still down by 4.9%. Today’s improvement in industrial production was driven by almost all sectors except for energy production. Activity in the construction sector benefitted from the mild winter weather and a general improvement in the real estate sector, surging by almost 8% month-on-month. At the same time, exports lost some of their January gains in February, dropping by 2% MoM from 6.3% MoM in January. February imports increased by 3.2% MoM, narrowing the trade balance to ... (full story)