In February 2010 compared with January 2010, the euro area (EA16) industrial new orders index rose by 1.5%. In January 20103 the index fell by 1.6%. In the EU271 new orders increased by 1.1% in February 2010, after a rise of 0.3% in January 2010. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment, for which changes tend to be more volatile, industrial new orders rose by 2.5% in the euro area and by 1.9% in the EU27.

In February 2010 compared with February 2009, industrial new orders increased by 12.2% in the euro area and by 12.7% in the EU27. Total industry excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment rose by 14.0% in the euro area and by 13.5% in the EU27.

Monthly changes

In February 2010 compared with January 2010, new orders for intermediate goods rose by 2.6% in the euro area and by 2.9% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods increased by 2.5% and 2.4% respectively. Capital goods increased by 2.3% in the euro area and by 1.4% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods dropped by 1.2% and 2.7% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in sixteen and fell in six. The highest increases were registered in Hungary (+9.3%), Slovenia (+6.3%) and Slovakia (+5.2%), and the largest decreases in Denmark (-6.3%), Malta (-5.8%) and Greece (-4.5%).

Annual changes

In February 2010 compared with February 2009, new orders for intermediate goods rose by 23.0% in the euro area and by 20.6% in the EU27. Capital goods increased by 8.4% and 11.5% respectively. Durable consumer goods gained 5.6% in the euro area and 15.1% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods fell by 2.4% and 5.7% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in eighteen and fell in five. The highest increases were registered in Latvia (+39.4%), Slovakia (+29.4%) and Germany (+24.5%), and the largest decreases in Ireland (-7.6%), Greece (-5.7%) and Denmark (-5.4%).