Brussels, 24/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - The euro area industrial new orders index fell by 5.2% in December 2008 compared with November 2008, when it fell by 5.4%. In the EU27, new orders declined by 6.4% in December 2008, after dropping by 5.1% in November, says a press release published by Eurostat on Tuesday 24 February. Excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment, for which changes tend to be more volatile, industrial new orders fell by 4.7% in the euro area and by 6.4% in the EU27. Compared with December 2007, industrial new orders decreased by 22.3% in the euro area and by 23.3% in the EU27. Industry new orders, excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment, dropped by 22.1% in the euro area and by 21.2% in the EU27.
In December 2008 compared with November 2008, new orders for textiles and textile products fell by 0.5% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU27. Manufacturing of electrical and electronic equipment decreased by 1.7% and 3.2% respectively. Chemicals and chemical products dropped by 4.3% in the euro area and by 5.3% in the EU27. Transport equipment fell by 4.6% and 6.1% respectively. Basic metals and fabricated metal products lost 10.1% in the euro area and 9.2% in the EU27. Manufacturing of machinery and equipment declined by 12.3% and 9.4% respectively.
Compared with December 2007, new orders for textiles and textile products fell by 6.5% in the euro area and by 5.8% in the EU27. Manufacturing of chemicals and chemical products decreased by 12.5% and 12.1% respectively. Electrical and electronic equipment lost 13.8% in the euro area and 14.8% in the EU27. Manufacturing of machinery and equipment declined by 25.8% and 23.5% respectively. Basic metals and fabricated metal products decreased by 26.3% in the euro area and by 23.9% in the EU27. Transport equipment dropped by 35.1% and 37.0% respectively. (A.B./transl.rt)