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The first estimate for the euro area (EA18) trade in goods balance with the rest of the world in February 2014 gave a 13.6 billion euro surplus, compared with +9.8 bn in February 2013. The January 2014 balance was +0.8 bn, compared with -4.8 bn in January 2013. In February 2014 compared with January 2014, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 1.2% and imports by 0.6%.

Euro area annual inflation was 0.5% in March 2014, down from 0.7% in February. A year earlier the rate was 1.7%. Monthly inflation was 0.9% in March 2014.

In February 2014 compared with January, seasonally adjusted industrial production rose by 0.2% in the euro area (EA18) and by 0.4% in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In January industrial production remained stable in the euro area and increased by 0.2% in the EU28.

There has been a steady increase in the share of persons aged 30 to 34 in the EU28 who have completed tertiary education, from 24% in 2002, when the series started, to 37% in 2013. The Europe 2020 strategy’s target is to increase the proportion of persons having completed tertiary education to at least 40% of the EU28 population in this age group by 2020.

The EU28 population aged 15 to 74 can be classified into three groups: in 2013, these were 216.4 million persons in employment, 26.2 million unemployed and 137.2 million economically inactive. Among those in employment, 43.7 million were part-time workers, of which 9.9 million (23% of part-time workers) are underemployed, meaning they wished to work more hours and were available to do so.

In February 2014 compared with January 2014, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade rose by 0.4% in the euro area (EA18) and by 0.5% in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In January retail trade increased by 1.0% and 0.6% respectively.

In February 2014, compared with January 2014, industrial producer prices fell by 0.2% in both the euro area (EA18) and the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In January prices decreased by 0.3% in both zones.

The euro area (EA18) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.9% in February 2014, stable since October 2013. It was 12.0% in February 2013. The EU28 unemployment rate was 10.6% in February 2014, down from 10.7% in January 20144. It was 10.9% in February 2013. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

In 2013, average hourly labour costs in the whole economy (excluding agriculture and public administration) were estimated to be €23.7 in the EU28 and €28.4 in the euro area3 (EA17). However, this average masks significant differences between EU Member States, with the lowest hourly labour costs recorded in Bulgaria (€3.7), Romania (€4.6), Lithuania (€6.2) and Latvia (€6.3), and the highest in Sweden (€40.1), Denmark (€38.4), Belgium (€38.0), Luxembourg (€35.7) and France (€34.3).

In January 2014 compared with December 2013, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector grew by 1.5% in the euro area (EA18) and by 1.3% in the EU28, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In December 2013, production in construction rose by 1.3% and 1.2% respectively. In January 2014 compared with January 2013, production in construction increased by 8.8% in the euro area and by 7.3% in the EU28.