In March 2010 compared with February 2010, the euro area (EA16) industrial new orders index rose by 5.2%. In February the index increased by 1.9%. In the EU27, new orders gained 5.9% in March 2010 after a rise of 1.1% in February. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment, for which changes tend to be more volatile, industrial new orders grew by 4.5% in the euro area and by 5.0% in the EU27.

In March 2010 compared with March 2009, industrial new orders increased by 19.8% in the euro area and by 20.7% in the EU27. Total industry excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment rose by 20.2% and 20.3% respectively.

Monthly changes

In March 2010 compared with February 2010, new orders for capital goods rose by 5.7% in the euro area and by 5.9% in the EU27. Intermediate goods increased by 5.4% and 6.1% respectively. Non-durable consumer goods gained 4.2% in the euro area and 4.5% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods grew by 2.4% and 1.2% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in eighteen and fell in Portugal (-9.9%), Ireland (-5.5%) and Lithuania (-2.9%). The highest increases were registered in Denmark (+20.6%), Estonia (+12.3%) and Greece (+11.7%).

Annual changes

In March 2010 compared with March 2009, new orders for intermediate goods rose by 31.0% in the euro area and by 29.9% in the EU27. Capital goods increased by 15.6% and 18.0% respectively. Durable consumer goods gained 11.2% in the euro area and 17.5% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods grew by 6.5% and 4.5% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in eighteen and fell in four. The highest increases were registered in the United Kingdom (+36.3%), Latvia (+33.8%), Germany (+31.0%) and Slovakia (+30.0%), and the largest decreases in Ireland (-22.9%), Portugal (-21.1%) and Denmark (-17.2%).