Compared with 2007, the average new orders index for 2008 fell by 5.0% in the euro area and by 4.9% in the EU27.
Monthly changes
In December 2008 compared with November 2008, new orders for textiles & textile products fell by 0.5% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU27. Manufacturing of electrical & electronic equipment decreased by 1.7% and 3.2% respectively. Chemicals & chemical products dropped by 4.3% in the euro area and by 5.3% in the EU27. Transport equipment fell by 4.6% and 6.1% respectively. Basic metals & fabricated metal products lost 10.1% in the euro area and 9.2% in the EU27. Manufacturing of machinery & equipment declined by 12.3% and 9.4% respectively.
Among the Member States for which data are available for December 2008, total manufacturing working on orders rose in four and fell in sixteen. The increases were registered in Latvia (+5.8%), Greece (+2.8%), France (+1.5%) and Spain (+0.9%). The largest decreases were recorded in the Netherlands (-15.1%), Hungary (-13.0%), Ireland (-12.2%) and Slovakia (-11.4%).
Annual changes
In December 2008 compared with December 2007, new orders for textiles & textile products fell by 6.5% in the euro area and by 5.8% in the EU27. Manufacturing of chemicals & chemical products decreased by 12.5% and 12.1% respectively. Electrical & electronic equipment lost 13.8% in the euro area and 14.8% in the EU27. Manufacturing of machinery & equipment declined by 25.8% and 23.5% respectively. Basic metals & fabricated metal products decreased by 26.3% in the euro area and by 23.9% in the EU27. Transport equipment dropped by 35.1% and 37.0% respectively.
In December 2008, total manufacturing working on orders fell in all Member States for which data are available. The most significant falls were registered in Hungary (-37.2%), Slovakia (-35.0%), the Netherlands (-31.1%) and Spain (-30.3%).
