Brussels, 12/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - Industrial production fell by 0.3% in both the eurozone and the EU27 in July 2008 on June 2008, when it fell by 0.2% in the two zones. Compared with July 2007, industrial production fell by 1.7% in the eurozone and 1.3% in the EU27 according to figures published by Eurostat on Friday 12 September.
In July 2008 compared with June 2008, production in the energy industry rose by 0.2% in the eurozone but fell by 0.3% in the EU27. In both zones, the production of both intermediary goods and non-durable consumer goods fell by 0.3%. Production of investment goods fell by 0.8% in the eurozone and 0.4% in the EU27, and durable consumer goods fell by 0.9% and 0.4% respectively. Industrial production rose in 11 member states, particularly Portugal (2.1%), Spain (2.0%) and Denmark (1.7%), and fell in ten countries, including Slovenia (-5.4%), the Netherlands (-2.2%) and Romania (-2.0%).
In annual terms, production in the energy industry fell by 0.3% in the eurozone and 1.1% in the EU27. Production of investment goods fell by 1.1% and 0.1% respectively. Non-durable consumer goods fell by 1.5% in both zones. Intermediary goods fell 2.3% in the eurozone and 2.0% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods fell by 5.7% and 4.0% respectively. Industrial production rose in eight member states, notably Lithuania and Poland (both by 3.7%), and fell in 13, including Latvia (-6.9%), Estonia (-5.2%) and Slovenia (-4.6%). (A.B./transl.fl)