In December 2010 compared with November 2010, the euro area (EA16) industrial new orders index rose by 2.1%. In November the index grew by 2.2%. In the EU27, new orders increased by 2.5% in December 2010, after a rise of 1.7% in November. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment, for which changes tend to be more volatile, industrial new orders increased in December 2010 by 1.3% in both zones.

In December 2010 compared with December 2009, industrial new orders grew by 18.5% in both the euro area and the EU27. Total industry excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment rose by 18.9% and 18.6% respectively.

Compared with 2009, the average new orders index for 2010 increased by 17.6% in the euro area and by 17.2% in the EU27.

These estimates are released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Monthly changes

In December 2010 compared with November 2010, new orders for capital goods rose by 3.7% in the euro area and by 5.4% in the EU27. Intermediate goods increased by 2.4% and 2.1% respectively. Non-durable consumer goods rose by 1.9% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27. Durable consumer goods fell by 2.3% and 1.9% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in fifteen and fell in seven. The highest increases were registered in Estonia (+26.4%), the Netherlands (+9.7%) and Italy (+9.1%), and the largest decreases in Hungary (-18.5%), Ireland (-12.4%) and Bulgaria (-6.0%).

Annual changes

In December 2010 compared with December 2009, new orders for intermediate goods rose by 26.5% in the euro area and by 24.8% in the EU27. Capital goods increased by 16.9% and 18.3% respectively. Non-durable consumer goods grew by 6.7% in the euro area and by 3.6% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods increased by 2.2% and 3.5% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in twenty and fell in Greece (-6.5%) and Denmark (-0.9%). The highest increases were registered in Estonia (+114.8%), Lithuania (+50.1%), Finland (+46.3%) and Romania (+42.3%).