Brussels, 13/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - Seasonally adjusted industrial production in December 2008 fell by 2.6% in the euro area and by 2.3% in the EU27 compared with November when production decreased by 2.2% in both zones. Compared with December 2007, industrial production declined by 12.0% in the euro area and by 11.5% in the EU27, Eurostat revealed on Thursday 12 February.
Compared with November 2008, production of energy rose by 1.1% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods fell by 0.9% and 0.8% respectively. Capital goods decreased by 2.5% in the euro area and by 2.8% in the EU27. Intermediate goods declined by 5.7% in the euro area and by 5.2% in the EU27. Among the Member states for which data are available, industrial production fell in nineteen and rose only in Lithuania (1.1%). The most significant falls were registered in Slovakia (12.7%), Ireland (10.2%), Romania (8.6%) and Germany (4.9%).
Compared with December 2007, production of energy fell by 3.3% in both the euro area and the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods decreased by 3.9% and 4.1% respectively. Capital goods declined by 11.7% in the euro area and by 12.2% in the EU27 and intermediate goods fell by 20.3% and by 19.2% respectively. The largest decreases were registered in Estonia (20.7%), Spain (19.6%), Sweden (18.4%), Romania and Slovenia (both 17.5%). (A.B./transl.rt)