Menu

comScore, Inc. released an overview of internet usage in Europe during June 2012, showing that 397.2 million Europeans went online for an average of 25.9 hours. The June report, which includes internet usage in 49 European markets aggregated into the European region and individual reporting on 18 markets, also highlights that web-based email is still popular among European internet users. Nearly 70 percent of the European internet audience accessed Email sites during the month, displaying a growth rate of 3.7 percentage points over the past year. UK and Spain ranked first for penetration, with web-based Email reaching 82.7 percent and 79.2 percent of their respective internet audiences.

The first estimate for the euro area (EA17) trade in goods balance with the rest of the world in June 2012 gave a 14.9 bn euro surplus, compared with +0.2 bn in June 2011. The May 2012 balance was +7.1 bn, compared with -0.9 bn in May 2011. In June 2012 compared with May 2012, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 2.4% and imports remained almost stable.

In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production fell by 0.5% in the euro area (EA17) and by 1.7% in the EU27 in June 2012, compared with the previous month. In May 2012, production decreased by 0.2% in the euro area, but increased by 1.2% in the EU27. Compared with June 2011, production in June 2012 dropped by 2.8% in the euro area and by 5.8% in the EU27.

Euro area annual inflation was 2.4% in July 2012, stable compared to June. A year earlier the rate was 2.6%. Monthly inflation was -0.5% in July 2012. EU annual inflation was 2.5% in July 2012, also stable compared to June. A year earlier the rate was 2.9%. Monthly inflation was -0.4% in July 2012.

In June 2012 compared with May 2012, seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 0.6% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.9% in the EU27. In May production rose by 0.9% and 0.8% respectively. In June 2012 compared with June 2011, industrial production dropped by 2.1% in the euro area and by 2.2% in the EU27.

In June 2012 compared with May 2012, the volume of retail trade rose by 0.1% in the euro area (EA17) and fell by 0.3% in the EU272. In May retail trade increased by 0.8% in both zones. In June 2012, compared with June 2011, the retail sales index declined by 1.2% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU27.

In June 2012, compared with May 2012, the industrial producer price index fell by 0.5% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.8% in the EU27. In May prices decreased by 0.5% and 0.7% respectively. In June 2012 compared with June 2011, industrial producer prices gained 1.8% in the euro area and 1.6% in the EU27.

In the first quarter of 2012 compared with the fourth quarter of 2011, the household saving rate and the household investment rate remained almost stable in both the euro area (EA17) and the EU27. In the euro area, household disposable income increased by 0.2% in real terms, after falling by 0.5% in the previous quarter.

In the first quarter of 2012, compared with the fourth quarter of 2011, the business investment rate remained nearly stable in the euro area and fell slightly in the EU27. In the euro area, the business profit share rose slightly, as wage costs remained stable while value added increased slightly.

The euro area (EA17) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.2% in June 2012, stable compared with May. It was 10.0% in June 2011. The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.4% in June 2012, also stable compared with May. It was 9.5% in June 2011.