Euro area’s industrial production fell 0.3pc in March after February’s 0.8pc rise

In March 2012 compared with February 2012, seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU. In February production rose by 0.8% and 0.4% respectively. In March 2012 compared with March 2011, industrial production dropped by 2.2% in the euro area and by 1.9% in the EU. These estimates were released this week by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

In March 2012 compared with February 2012, production of energy fell by 8.5% in the euro area and by 6.8% in the EU. In both zones durable consumer goods decreased by 0.2%, while non-durable consumer goods rose by 0.8% and intermediate goods by 1.0%. Capital goods increased by 1.1% in the euro-area and by 0.9% in the EU27.

Among the member states for which data are available, industrial production fell in eleven and rose in twelve. The largest decreases were registered in the Netherlands (-9.0%), Estonia (-3.4%), Denmark (-2.8%) and Ireland (-2.7%), and the highest increases in Slovenia (+6.3%), Slovakia (+3.5%) and Lithuania (+3.1%).

In March 2012 compared with March 2011, production of energy dropped by 7.3% in the euro area and by 6.3% in the EU. Durable consumer goods fell by 6.7% and 5.5% respectively. Non-durable consumer goods decreased by 3.8% in the euro area and by 2.4% in the EU. Intermediate goods declined by 3.0% and 2.3% respectively. Capital goods grew by 2.3% in the euro area and by 2.0% in the EU.

Among the member States for which data are available, industrial production fell in fifteen and rose in eight.