Source:Eurostat

16 AUGUST 2011

INDUSTRIAL output fell -0.7% in the Euro area dragged down by gaps recorded in each Germany  and Spain, -0.8%, and in Italy -0.6% in addition to  France's -1.7%, the region's first dip into negative territory besides March minor -0.1% decline.

All industrial sectors recorded substantial breaks due to the quarter's volatile context upon renewed Euro area debt concerns (Portugal and Greece) and the tangible economic slow down. The Production of Intermediate Goods  fell -0.6% and Capital Goods -1.5% as Durable Consumer Goods -2.5% production gap also accounted for the component's second consecutive decline unlike all others. Output of energy fell -0.4% due to lesser industrial activities. Non Durable Consumer Goods fared equally and dipped -0.5%

Besides the Euro area's four underperformance, and out of the EU 27, the UK, Europe's fifth heavy economic weight, saw output stay flat. In Poland, eastern Europe's economic leader, overall production turned negative and dropped -2.2% and in Slovakia and the Czech Republic -1.9%, each and Romania -2.2%. Estonia and  Latvia remained exceptions with output turning positive and rising respectively +1.5%, +4.1%  while Lithuania's momentum stayed sustained but moved down by two percentage points to +3.7%. Dynamic Nordic states saw output in Denmark plunge -5.8%, and in Finland -3.3. Figures were unavailable for Sweden.

In one year, industrial output in the Euro area slowed down to +2.9%, as energy and Durable Consumer Goods respective productions fell -5.7% and -2.7%. Intermediate Goods stayed in the black but moved down to +3.3%, Capital Goods shed three percentage points to +7%. The production of Non Durable Consumer Goods curved down to +1.2%.

Despite this month gap, output in Germany roes +7% for the second consecutive month annually, while France's moved down to +2.1% back to April levels. In Italy, production inched up +0.2% and in Spain dropped -2%, the country's third production contraction since March annually. In the UK, output fell -5.3%, the biggest decline since January on the same yearly period.

Ireland and Greece posted negative figures with output falling respectively -0.3% and -13.2%, followed by Portugal's -2.9% in a pattern similar to Spain's.
  
 Out of the EU 27, Poland's production induction shrank by over half to +3.6% , Romania's shed over six percentage points to +1.8% and the Czech Republic's moved down to +7.4%.