Italian industrial output rose by a marginal 0.1% in February, disappointing expectations of a rebound following two consecutive declines. The rise in output was blamed on the US-Israeli attack on Iran and rising energy prices. Looking ahead, the outlook for the country is uncertain as the Middle East continues to destabilize itself. Italy's Economy Minister, Giancarlo Giorgetti, plans to cut its GDP growth estimates to reflect the impact of the rising energy costs.