Brussels, September 16 (QNA) - Industrial production in the eurozone rose by 1.8% year-on-year in July, accelerating from 0.7% growth in June, according to data released today by the European Statistical Agency (Eurostat).

On a monthly basis, output in the 20-nation currency bloc increased by 0.3% in July, rebounding from a 0.6% decline in June and exceeding analysts' expectations of a 0.4% rise.

Across the wider European Union, industrial production was up 0.2% month-on-month and 1.8% year-on-year.

The strongest monthly gains in industrial production were recorded in Croatia, Hungary, and Slovenia, while Estonia, Malta, and Sweden posted the sharpest declines.

By sector, production of nondurable consumer goods rose the most, up 1.5% in July, followed by capital goods at 1.3% and durable consumer goods at 1.1%. Output of intermediate goods increased by 0.5%, while energy production fell by 2.9%.

Separately, Eurostat reported that labor costs in the EU rose by 3.6% year-on-year in the second quarter, compared with 3.4% in the first quarter. Wages and salaries advanced by 3.7%, while non-wage costs grew by 3.4%. (QNA)