In September 2009 compared with August 2009, the euro area (EA16) industrial new orders index rose by 1.5%. In August the index increased by 0.6%. In the EU27 new orders grew by 1.7% in September 2009, after an increase of 2.0% in August. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment, for which changes tend to be more volatile, industrial new orders fell by 1.2% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU27.

In September 2009 compared with September 2008, industrial new orders decreased by 16.5% in the euro area and by 16.4% in the EU27. Total industry excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment dropped by 18.2% and 17.5% respectively.

Monthly changes

In September 2009 compared with August 2009, new orders for capital goods grew by 3.7% in the euro area and by 2.8% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods rose by 1.5% and 2.0% respectively. Durable consumer goods increased by 1.5% in the euro area and by 1.8% in the EU27. Intermediate goods fell by 2.1% and 0.2% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in thirteen and fell in eight. The highest increases were registered in Denmark (+43.0%), Ireland (+19.7%) and Poland (+9.7%), and the largest decreases in Estonia (-5.0%), Portugal (-4.9%) and Lithuania (-4.4%).

Annual changes

In September 2009 compared with September 2008, new orders for non-durable consumer goods fell by 4.0% in the euro area and by 1.4% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods declined by 13.0% and 6.7% respectively. Capital goods dropped by 14.5% in the euro area and by 16.8% in the EU27. Intermediate goods decreased by 22.5% and 20.7% respectively.

Total manufacturing working on orders fell in all the Member States for which data are available, except Denmark (+9.6%). The largest falls were registered in Estonia and Lithuania (both -42.4%), Latvia and Finland (both -31.0%), and the lowest decreases in France (-5.8%), Ireland (-11.5%) and Sweden (-12.9%).