Italy's industrial production index rose by 1.1 percent in June compared to May, and by 5.3 percent over the same period in 2016, the country's statistics agency Istat reported Wednesday.

The unadjusted industrial production index increased by 5.4 percent compared with June 2016, Istat said.

Categories posting calendar-adjusted gains in June included energy (9.8 percent), consumer goods (5.6 percent), capital goods (5.1 percent) and intermediate goods (4 percent).

Farm Minister Maurizio Martina ascribed these results to the expansive policies including tax breaks and investment incentives of the current and previous center-left governments.

"The key is to push forward on investments and to link this effort more and more to job creation," Italian news agency Ansa cited Martina, who is also the deputy secretary of the ruling Democratic Party, as saying.

Italy has been experiencing a sluggish to moderate economic recovery in recent years.