In December 2007 compared with November 2007, seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 0.2% in both the euro area (EA13) and the EU27. In November production decreased by 0.4% and 0.3% respectively. In December 2007 compared with December 2006, industrial production rose by 1.3% in the euro area and by 1.2% in the EU27.

Compared with 2006, the average production index for 2007 increased by 3.4% in the euro area and by 3.2% in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

In December 2007 compared with November 2007, production of energy increased by 0.5% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU27. Intermediate goods grew by 0.3% and 0.2% respectively. Durable consumer goods remained stable in both zones. Non-durable consumer goods fell by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU27. Capital goods decreased by 1.0% and 0.8% respectively.

In December 2007, among the Member States for which data is available, industrial production rose in seven and fell in fourteen. The highest increases were registered in Luxembourg (+4.4%), the Netherlands (+3.0%) and Ireland (+2.4%), while the largest decreases were recorded in Estonia (-7.3%), Slovakia (-3.6%) and Denmark (-3.4%).

Annual comparison

In December 2007 compared with December 2006, production of energy increased by 4.4% in the euro area and by 3.7% in the EU27. Capital goods grew by 2.3% and 2.7% respectively. Intermediate goods rose by 0.2% in both zones. Non-durable consumer goods remained stable in the euro area, but fell by 0.9% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods decreased by 4.2% and 1.5% respectively.

In December 2007, among the Member States for which data are available, industrial production rose in twelve and fell in nine. The highest increases were registered in the Netherlands (+10.3%), Lithuania (+7.2%) and Slovakia (+6.3%), while the largest decreases were recorded in Latvia (-6.7%), Italy (-6.5%) and Spain (-2.4%).

These estimates are released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.