According to the latest figures from statistics service ISTAT, production of leather and footwear in Italy fell 9.9% in January compared with the same month in 2001.

Industrial production overall during the month was down 3.4% compared with last year. The sectors worst hit were electrical and precision equipment (down 11.9%), wood and wood products (11%), paper, printing and publishing (8.7%) and transport vehicles (8.5%).

Some sectors experienced a rise, however, with production in the electricity, gas and water sector up 7.3% over the period compared with the year before.