In May 2010 compared with April 2010, the euro area (EA16) industrial new orders index rose by 3.8%. In April the index increased by 0.6%. In the EU27, new orders increased by 2.7% in May 2010 after a rise of 0.3% in April. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment, for which changes tend to be more volatile, industrial new orders grew by 2.6% in the euro area and by 2.7% in the EU27.

In May 2010 compared with May 2009, industrial new orders increased by 22.7% in the euro area and by 20.1% in the EU27. Total industry excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment rose by 22.4% and 22.0% respectively.

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

Monthly changes

In May 2010 compared with April 2010, new orders for capital goods rose by 5.3% in the euro area and by 4.7% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods increased by 4.0% and 4.5% respectively. Durable consumer goods gained 2.9% in the euro area and 1.1% in the EU27. Intermediate goods grew by 1.4% and 2.3% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in fourteen and fell in seven. The highest increases were registered in Denmark (+13.4%), Estonia (+12.1%) and the Czech Republic (+7.5%) and the largest decreases in Greece and the Netherlands (both -6.1%) and the United Kingdom (-2.8%).

Annual changes

In May 2010 compared with May 2009, new orders for intermediate goods rose by 30.2% in the euro area and by 30.1% in the EU27. Capital goods increased by 20.7% and 16.1% respectively. Durable consumer goods gained 13.1% in the euro area and 16.5% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods grew by 8.2% and 6.4% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in twenty and fell only in Denmark and Greece (both -1.0%). The highest increases were registered in Latvia (+69.0%), Estonia (+44.1%), Hungary (+40.6%) and Finland (+40.5%).