In January 2009 compared with December 2008, seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 3.5% in the euro area (EA16) and by 2.9% in the EU27. In December production decreased by 2.7% in both zones.

In January 2009 compared with January 2008, industrial production declined by 17.3% in the euro area and by 16.3% in the EU27. These estimates are released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

Monthly comparison

In January 2009 compared to December 2008, production of non-durable consumer goods fell by 1.1% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27. Energy decreased by 1.6% and 0.4% respectively. Durable consumer goods dropped by 2.6% in the euro area and by 1.8% in the EU27. Intermediate goods declined by 3.6% and 3.4% respectively. Capital goods fell by 6.0% in the euro area and 5.7% in the EU27.

Among the Member States for which data is available, industrial production fell in fourteen and rose only in Ireland (+6.7%) and Hungary (+2.5%). The most significant falls were registered in Latvia (-11.2%), Portugal (-9.8%) and Germany (-7.5%).

Annual comparison

In January 2009 compared with January 2008, production of energy fell by 2.9% in the euro area and by 4.4% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods decreased by 4.9% and 4.0% respectively. Durable consumer goods declined by 18.0% in the euro area and by 18.3% in the EU27. Capital goods fell by 21.4% and 21.1% respectively. Intermediate goods fell by 24.4% in the euro area and by 23.7% in the EU27.

Industrial production fell in all Member States for which data is available. The largest decreases were registered in Estonia (-26.8%), Latvia (-23.9%), Sweden (-21.1%) and Hungary (-21.0%), and the smallest in Ireland (-0.8%), Lithuania (-4.7%) and Denmark (-9.6%).

From January 2009 onwards, data for industrial production are published according to a new classification. At the same time, indices are calculated and presented with 2005 as a new base year.

Note: No specific data was available for Malta.