* reuters://realtime/verb=Open/url=cpurl://apps.cp./Apps/econ-polls?RIC=MYIP%3DECI poll data
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 (Reuters) – Malaysia’s industrial production index rebounded in December after two months of decline, rising 1.7% from a year earlier on higher manufacturing output, government data showed on Monday.
The index, which measures factory output from the manufacturing, mining and electricity generation sectors, had contracted 2.2% in November.
December’s expansion beat the 0.5% decline forecast by 11 economists in a Reuters poll.
Manufacturing output in December rose 4.1% from a year earlier, the Statistics Department said in a statement.
Mining and electricity output however were down 5.4% and 0.2%, respectively, the data showed.
Malaysia’s exports had risen for the fourth straight month in December, expanding 10.8% from a year earlier on higher shipments of manufactured goods and agricultural products. (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
