23/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - New orders rise by 2.1% in euro area. According to data provided by Eurostat on Wednesday 23 March, the index for new orders in the euro area increased by 2.1% in December 2010, compared to the November 2010 index. In November the index stood at 2.2%. In the EU27 new orders increased by 2.5% in December 2010, following an increase of 1.7% in November. Excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment, for which changes tend to be more volatile, industrial new orders increased by 1.3% in both zones. In December 2010, compared to figures for December 2009, new orders in industry grew by 18.5% in both the euro area and EU27. Excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment, new orders in industry increased by 18.9% and 18.6% respectively. In 2010, the number of new orders in industry increased by an average of 17.6% in the euro area and 17.2% in the EU27, compared to figures for 2009. (L.C./transl.fl)