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In October 2013, compared with September 2013, industrial producer prices fell by 0.5% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.6% in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In September prices rose by 0.2% and 0.1% respectively. In October 2013, compared with October 2012, industrial producer prices decreased by 1.4% in the euro area and by 1.1% in the EU28.

The euro area (EA17) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 12.1% in October 2013, down from 12.2% in September. The EU28 unemployment rate was 10.9%, stable compared with September. In both zones, rates have risen compared with October 2012, when they were 11.7% and 10.7% respectively. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

After a rise between 2008 and 2009, social protection expenditure in the EU28 fell slightly from 29.7% of GDP in 2009 to 29.4% in 2010 and 29.1% in 2011, according to data from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. The increase observed in the ratio between 2008 and 2009 was mainly a result of the economic crisis, as total social protection expenditure in nominal terms in the EU28 grew (particularly due to the strong growth of unemployment benefits), while GDP fell. The fall between 2009 and 2011 was due to social protection expenditure growing more slowly than GDP. This fall masks different trends at Member State level. In 2011, the two main sources of funding of social protection at EU28 level were general government contributions from taxes, making up 40% of total receipts, and social contributions at 56%.

Over the last decade, EU28 international trade in goods with Japan is characterised by a regular fall in the share of Japan in the EU28's total trade in goods, more significant for imports than for exports, and a continuous deficit. The share of exports to Japan in the EU28 total fell from 4.9% in 2002 to 3.3% in 2012 and the share of imports from Japan also dropped, from 7.9% to 3.6%. As a result, the EU28 trade deficit with Japan decreased from 30.3 bn euro in 2002 to 9.0 bn in 2012.

The first estimate for the euro area (EA17) trade in goods balance with the rest of the world in September 2013 gave a 13.1 billion euro surplus, compared with +8.6 bn in September 2012. The August 2013 balance was +6.9 bn, compared with +5.1 bn in August 2012. In September 2013 compared with August 2013, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 1.0% while imports fell by 0.3%. These data are released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Euro area annual inflation was 0.7% in October 2013, down from 1.1% in September. A year earlier the rate was 2.5%. Monthly inflation was -0.1% in October 2013. European Union annual inflation was 0.9% in October 2013, down from 1.3% in September. A year earlier the rate was 2.6%. Monthly inflation was -0.1% in October 2013.

In September 2013 compared with August 2013, seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 0.5% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.2% in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In August industrial production increased by 1.0% and 0.6% respectively. In September 2013 compared with September 2012, industrial production rose by 1.1% in the euro area and by
1.2% in the EU28.

Which Member States are the biggest producers of wheat, maize or barley? How much cow’s milk is collected by dairies in the EU? Which Member States produce the most drinking milk, cheese, butter or cream? And which produce the most meat from cattle, pigs or poultry? Answers to these questions and many more can be found in the 2013 edition of the Pocketbook on agriculture, forestry and fishery statistics issued by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

In September 2013 compared with August 2013, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade fell by 0.6% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.3% in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In August retail trade increased by 0.5% and 0.2% respectively. In September 2013 compared with September 2012, the retail sales index rose by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU28.

Over the last decade, EU28 exports to South Korea more than doubled, from 17.7 billion euro in 2002 to a peak of 37.8 bn in 2012. EU28 imports from South Korea grew more modestly, from 24.7 bn to 38.0 bn, but remained below the peak of 41.7 bn recorded in 2007. The EU28 has always recorded a trade deficit with South Korea, but since 2006 this deficit has progressively fallen, from 18.1 bn to almost in balance (-0.2 bn) in 2012.