Souce:Eurostat

16 SEPTEMBER 2011

INDUSTRIAL output turned positive and rose +1% (from -0.8% last month) in the Euro area lifted by Capital Goods +3% (from -1.5%) and Intermediate Goods positive upturn to +0.8% (from -0.8%) as aerospace and transport equipment picked up in near sync. Durable Consumer Goods consequently rose +2.9% (from -2.5% the previous month) as stock renewal ahead of the Fall season prepared for demand. Non Durable Consumer Goods inched up to -0.6% (from -0.8%) due to slower demand in the summer month mostly for food products and clothing. The production of energy slowed down to -0.8% (from 1%). 

Among the Euro area's heavy weights besides France, output in Germany grew +4.1% (from -0.8%) while Italy and Spain stayed in negative territory hit by investors lack of confidence over debt concerns and therefore slower order books. In the UK, the Union's fifth major economic member state, output stayed flat for the second consecutive month.

Greece, Ireland and Portugal performed unequally with output up respectively +4%, +0.8% but -3% for the second consecutive month. 

Out of east European member states, production in Poland, the largest economy,  rose +0.4% ( from -2.4% the previous month) but in Slovakia, the region's second lead, output contracted further, over one percentage point, and fell -3.4%. In the Czech Republic, a major car manufacturer for households name in the west, production climbed +0.1% (from -1.4%).

Among Nordic states, Sweden's production turned positive and rose +3.3% (from -1.8%) and Denmark's to +2.2% (from -5.2%). Finland's climbed to -0.3% (from -3.6%).

In one year, overall output in the Euro area rose +4.2% boosted by Capital Goods +11.7%, Intermediate Goods +4.1% and Durable Consumer Goods +3%. Durable Consumer Goods mechanically moved down to -0.9% and Energy to -5.3%.

Output in Germany increased over four percentage points to +10.4%, while Italy's turned negative -1.6% and Spain's -2.8%. In the UK, production improved to -0.4%.  Poland's production index stayed sustained and grew +3.8%, and Slovakia's +5%. In the Czech Republic, output slowed down one percentage point to +6.8%.

Bailed-out states stayed in the red with output contracting -4.9% in Ireland, and in Portugal -4.4% while Greece's production climbed to -2.9%

Sweden took the lead among Nordic states with production up +6.2%, Finland's +1.2% and Denmark's +1.6%.