ASSAGO, ITALY - Preliminary figures released last month by Acimall show sales of Italian woodworking machinery decreased in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Acimall, the Italian woodworking equipment trade association said economic uncertainty resulted in an 8.8 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2010. Foreign orders declined 6.4 percent while Italian orders dropped approximately 16.9 percent.

Despite the poor fourth quarter, Acimall said preliminary figures for the year indicate a production increase by 5.8 percent compared to 2010, with an estimated value of $2.179 billion U.S. ($1.632 billion euros).