PARIS, Jan 9 (Reuters) - French industrial output continued its downward spiral in November, slumping a larger-than-expected 2.4 percent month on month on the back of further woes in the car industry, national statistics office INSEE said on Friday.
Economists polled by Reuters had predicted a 0.8 percent month-on-month fall.
Adding to the gloomy picture for the euro zone's second largest economy, INSEE sharply revised down its October output data, saying production fell 3.7 percent against a previously reported -2.7 percent.
The data will confirm widespread forecasts of a steep contraction in the French economy in the final quarter of 2008 after surprise growth of 0.1 percent in the third quarter.
The automobile industry has borne the brunt of the economic storm, with output dropping 8.1 percent in November after a dramatic 22.2 percent decline in October, INSEE said.
Manufacturing output dropped 3.1 percent in November against a 4.4 percent drop in October. Production of capital goods fell 0.5 percent against a previous 1.8 percent decline.
By contrast, output of consumer goods rose 0.8 percent in November, recovering from a 0.8 percent fall in October. (Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Jason Neely)