Source:Insee

21 JUNE 2011

ORDER BOOKS fell for the second consecutive month, -1.1% in April pushed down by export order books -2.2% decline and the Euro area's -1.7% drop of new orders. New orders of Capital Goods mirrored the overall index and fell -2.6% while Intermediate Goods dipped -2.7%. Durable Consumer Goods and Non Durable by contrast surged respectively +2.9% and +2.6%

The Automobile industry's new order index contracted further and decreased -4.6% impacted by lesser consumer demand. New orders of electronics equipment consequently declined -2% and equally machinery and equipment, a European best of class export product to Japan.

Other industrial products order books index dipped -0.9% due to textile -2% order books drop, paper and cardboard products -3.7%, and metal-  metallic products -9% due to the auto industry's slow down. Other metal products excluding machinery and equipment order books index rescinded -1.8%.

New orders of IT products, electronic and optical equipment rebounded +13.6% while clothing moved down to +2.5% in positive territory ahead of the summer period. Equally, new orders of chemical products surged +1% and pharmaceutical products +1.6%