France's industrial production decreased at a slower rate in December, in line with economists' expectations, data released by statistical office Insee showed Monday.

Industrial production declined 2.1 percent on an annual basis in December, which matched economists' expectations. The rate of fall was faster than the 3.8 percent fall seen in November.

On a monthly basis, industrial production edged down a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent in December, reversing the previous month's 0.5 percent increase.

Driving the overall contraction, manufacturing production fell 3.9 percent annually, faster than the 1.4 percent fall economists had forecast.

Month-on-month, factory output decreased 0.1 percent during the month, as it did in November. Economists had forecast a faster decline of 0.3 percent, data showed.