In November 2008 compared with October 2008, the euro area (EA15) industrial new orders index fell by 4.5%. In October the index decreased by 5.7%. In the EU27 new orders declined by 3.9% in November 2008, after dropping by 6.6% in October. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment, for which changes tend to be more volatile, industrial new orders dropped by 3.4% in the euro area and by 4.5% in the EU27.

In November 2008 compared with November 2007, industrial new orders decreased by 26.2% in the euro area and by 25.4% in the EU27. Total industry excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment fell by 22.8% in the euro area and by 22.1% in the EU27.

Monthly changes

In November 2008 compared with October 2008, new orders for textiles & textile products grew by 1.6% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU27. Manufacturing of electrical & electronic equipment fell by 2.0% and 4.8% respectively. Chemicals & chemical products decreased by 2.9% in the euro area and by 5.4% in the EU27. Manufacturing of machinery & equipment dropped by 4.9% and 5.0% respectively. Transport equipment fell by 6.3% in the euro area and by 2.9% in the EU27. Manufacturing of basic metals & fabricated metal products declined by 8.3% and 5.9% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available for November 2008, total manufacturing working on orders fell in nineteen and rose only in the United Kingdom (+0.7%). The largest decreases were recorded in Denmark (-19.5%), Hungary (-13.9%), Ireland (-13.1%) and Latvia (-12.9%).

Annual changes

In November 2008 compared with November 2007, new orders for chemicals & chemical products fell by 10.7% in the euro area and by 12.1% in the EU27. Manufacturing of textiles & textile products decreased by 15.8% and 16.0% respectively. Electrical & electronic equipment dropped by 16.9% in the euro area and by 17.5% in the EU27. Manufacturing of machinery & equipment declined by 23.6% and 23.5% respectively. Basic metals & fabricated metal products decreased by 27.6% in the euro area and by 24.8% in the EU27. Transport equipment fell by 46.4% and 41.9% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available for November 2008, total manufacturing working on orders fell in eighteen and rose only in Latvia (+11.1%) and Romania (+2.7%). The most significant falls were registered in Spain (-33.4%), Denmark (-31.2%), the Czech Republic (-30.2%) and Germany (-29.3%).