In April 2010 compared with March 2010, the euro area (EA16) industrial new orders index rose by 0.9%. In March the index increased by 5.1%. In the EU27, new orders decreased by 0.2% in April 2010, after a rise of 7.1% in March. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment, for which changes tend to be more volatile, industrial new orders grew by 1.1% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU27.

In April 2010 compared with April 2009, industrial new orders increased by 22.1% in the euro area and by 21.8% in the EU27. Total industry excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment4 rose by 23.1% and 23.0% respectively.

Monthly changes

In April 2010 compared with March 2010, new orders for intermediate goods rose by 1.7% in the euro area and by 2.1% in the EU27. Capital goods decreased by 0.8% and 2.1% respectively. Durable consumer goods dropped by 0.9% in the euro area, but gained 0.6% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods fell by 2.1% in both zones.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in eleven and fell in ten. The highest increases were registered in Hungary (+11.0%), Portugal (+7.7%) and Lithuania (+6.9%), and the largest decreases in Denmark (-11.2%), Greece (-5.4%) and Spain (-5.3%).

Annual changes

In April 2010 compared with April 2009, new orders for intermediate goods rose by 33.2% in the euro area and by 32.3% in the EU27. Capital goods increased by 18.1% and 18.3% respectively. Durable consumer goods gained 11.2% in the euro area and 18.0% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods grew by 3.5% and 1.8% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in twenty and fell in Ireland (-14.7%) and Denmark (-11.0%). The highest increases were registered in the Netherlands (+45.3%), Latvia (+37.5%), Slovakia (+34.1%) and Germany (+32.4%).