In February this year, as compared with the previous month, seasonally-adjusted industrial production rose by 0.5 percent in the euro area and by 0.2 percent in the EU-27. In January, production remained stable in both zones.
Meanwhile, in February of the current year compared with February 2011, seasonally-adjusted industrial production decreased by 1.8 percent both in the euro area and in the EU-27. These figures are released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
European Central Bank president Mario Draghi noted lately that he sees a "low-level" economic stabilization in the euro zone's economy and financial markets, saying that the region's economy should "recover gradually" this year. The European Commission forecasts a 0.3 percent contraction in 2012.
As compared to January, in February this year production of capital goods increased 0.7 percent in the euro area and by 0.1 percent in the EU-27, while intermediate goods fell by 1.4 percent in in the euro area and by 1.5 percent in the EU-27. Durable consumer goods decreased by two percent in the euro area and by 2.4 percent in the EU-27.
Among the member states for which data are available, in February as compared to January industrial production rose in nine states and fell in 13. The highest increases were registered in the Netherlands (+13%), in Slovakia (+2.8%) and in Finland (+2.1%), while the largest decreases were in Malta (-4.6%), in Sweden (-3.6%) and in Ireland (-3.2%).
As compared to February 2011, in February this year production of capital goods grew by 0.8 percent in the euro area and by 0.7 percent in the EU-27, intermediate goods decreased by 4.5 percent in the euro area and by four percent in the EU-27, durable consumer goods fell by 6.4 percent in the euro area and by 5.2 percent in the EU-27, while production of energy rose by 3.6 percent in the euro area and by 1.4 percent in the EU-27.
Among the member states for which data are available, in February this year as compared to February 2011 industrial production rose in seven states and fell in 13. The highest increases were registered in Slovakia (+8.4%), in Latvia (+7.3%) and in the Netherlands (+6.7%), and the largest decreases were seen in Luxembourg (-14.4%), in Malta (-11.4%) and in Greece (-8.5%).