In March this year, seasonally-adjusted industrial production increased by one percent in the euro area and by 0.9 percent in the EU-27, as compared with February, when production had increased by 0.3 percent month on month in both zones. In March this year compared with March 2012, industrial production decreased by 1.7 percent in the euro area and by 1.1 percent in the EU-27. These figures are released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
As compared to February this year, in March the production of non-durable consumer goods decreased by 0.7 percent in the euro area and by 0.2 percent in the EU-27, while capital goods rose by 1.2 percent in the euro area and in the EU-27. Meanwhile, the production of durable consumer goods increased by 1.9 percent in the euro area and by 2.2 percent in the EU-27. In March this year, intermediate goods fell by 0.1 percent in the euro area and decreased by 0.2 percent in the EU-27. Production of energy rose by 3.8 percent in the euro area and by three percent in the EU-27, month on month.
Among the member states for which data are available, in March this year industrial production rose in 16 states and fell in seven, on month-on-month basis. The largest decreases were registered in Slovenia (-2.9%), Bulgaria (-2.3%) and Ireland (-2.2%), while the highest increases were in Portugal (+5.3%), the Netherlands (+4.5%), Luxembourg (+4.0%), and Estonia and Malta (both +3.9%)
As compared to the same month of 2012, in March this year production of capital goods declined by 3.1 percent in the euro area and by 2.1 percent in the Eu-27, while intermediate goods fell by 4.6 percent and four percent respectively. Non-durable consumer goods fell by 3.1 percent in the euro area and by 1.8 percent in the EU-27, while production of energy increased by 9.2 percent in the euro area and by 6.7 percent in the EU-27. The production of durable consumer goods declined by 2.2 percent in the euro area and by 0.7 percent in the EU-27, year on year.
Among the member states for which data are available, in March this year industrial production fell in 11 states and rose in 11 and remained stable in the United Kingdom on year-on-year basis. The largest decreases were registered in Luxembourg (-6.9%), Italy (-5.2%), Ireland (-4.1%) and Bulgaria (-3.6%), while the highest increases were seen in the Netherlands (+11.1%), Lithuania (+8.4%), Estonia (+7.1%) and Malta (+6.0%).