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The number of persons employed in the euro area (EA15) fell by 0.3% (453 000 persons) in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared with the previous quarter, according to national accounts estimates published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

Total hourly labour costs in the euro area (EA15) rose by 3.8% in nominal terms in the year up to the fourth quarter of 2008, compared with 4.2% for the previous quarter. In the EU27, the annual rise was 4.6% up to the fourth quarter of 2008, compared with 4.2% for the previous quarter.

European SMEs have reached a new record low in business confidence, according to an EU-wide survey recently conducted by UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation, and its members.

In January 2009, compared with December 2008, the volume of retail trade rose by 0.1% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.6% in the EU27. In December retail trade fell by 0.3% and 0.2% respectively.

The European automobile manufacturers welcome the EUR 3 billion in loans freed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to finance automotive projects, most of them concerning "green" investments. As the Bank indicated, in total around EUR 7 billion will become available in the first half of this year and its budget allows maintaining similar levels of financing until 2012.

As part of its effort to combat climate change and drive economic recovery, the European Commission called on Member States and industry to use information and communications technologies (ICT) to improve energy efficiency. These technologies are expected to reduce total carbon emissions in Europe by up to 15% by 2020. ICT can not only improve monitoring and management of energy use in factories, offices and in public spaces but above all help make people more aware of how they use energy. With smart metering in their homes, for example, consumers have been found to reduce their energy consumption by as much as 10%.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index™ for the U.K. declined 0.4 percent, and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index™ for the U.K. decreased 0.1 percent in January.

In January 2009 compared with December 2008, the industrial producer price index fell by 0.8% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.6% in the EU27. In December 2008, prices decreased by 1.5% and 1.7% respectively.

EU Member States showed their support for new rules to reduce the electricity consumption of industrial motors - which will save the equivalent of Sweden's electricity consumption each year - during today's Ecodesign Regulatory Committee meeting. The Regulation is expected to create 40,000 new jobs and make electricity savings of €9 billion by 2020.

Charges on heavy-goods vehicles should be based in part on the air and noise pollution they produce, according to legislation approved by the European Parliament.