In January 2010 compared with December 2009, the euro area (EA16) industrial new orders index fell by 2.0%. In December 2009 the index rose by 0.8%. In the EU27 new orders decreased by 0.2% in January 2010, after an increase of 0.9% in December 2009. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment, for which changes tend to be more volatile, industrial new orders fell by 1.3% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU27.

In January 2010 compared with January 2009, industrial new orders increased by 7.0% in the euro area and by 6.3% in the EU27. Total industry excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment rose by 7.0% in the euro area and by 7.5% in the EU27.

Monthly changes

In January 2010 compared with December 2009, new orders for capital goods dropped by 6.8% in the euro area and by 4.6% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods fell by 2.1% and 0.6% respectively. Durable consumer goods increased by 0.6% in the euro area, but decreased by 0.1% in the EU27. Intermediate goods rose by 4.7% and 4.6% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders fell in eleven and rose in eight. The largest decreases were registered in Greece (-11.0%), France (-10.8%) and Denmark (-6.8%), and the highest increases in Ireland (+31.3%), Romania (+8.3%), Lithuania and Poland (both +6.0%).

Annual changes

In January 2010 compared with January 2009, new orders for intermediate goods rose by 12.6% in the euro area and by 11.3% in the EU27. Capital goods increased by 5.5% and 5.2% respectively. Durable consumer goods gained 0.2% in the euro area and 5.4% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods fell by 3.5% and 4.5% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in eleven and fell in nine. The highest increases were registered in Slovakia (+21.3%), Romania (+16.3%) and Germany (+15.3%), and the largest decreases in Ireland (-13.2%), Estonia (-10.3%) and Hungary (-6.4%).