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In 2008, energy from renewable sources was estimated to have contributed 10.3% of gross final energy consumption in the EU27, compared with 9.7% in 2007 and 8.8% in 2006. The 2009 Directive on renewable energy set individual targets for all Member States, such that the EU will reach a 20% share of total energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020. These targets take into account the Member States' different starting points, renewable energy potential and economic performance.

Exports of goods from the EU27 to Brazil fell to 21.6 billion euro in 2009, down from the peak of 26.3 bn in 2008. Imports fell to 25.7 bn in 2009, after 35.9 bn in 2008. This led to a decreasing EU27 deficit in trade in goods with Brazil, from 9.6 bn in 2008 to 4.1 bn in 2009. It should be noted that the fall in the value of EU27 trade with Brazil recorded between 2008 and 2009 is in line with the general downward trend in the EU27's total external trade over the same period.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.K. increased 0.3 percent, and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) increased 0.1 percent in May.

As part of its work creating a safer and sounder financial system, preventing a future crisis and restoring consumer confidence, the European Commission has proposed changes to existing European rules to further improve protection for bank account holders and retail investors. Furthermore, the Commission has launched a public consultation on options to improve protection for insurance policy holders, including the possibility of setting up Insurance Guarantee Schemes in all Member States. For bank account holders, the measures adopted today mean that in case their bank failed, they would receive their money back faster (within 7 days), increased coverage (up to € 100 000) and better information on how and when they are protected. For investors who use investment services, the Commission proposes faster compensation if an investment firm fails to return the investor's assets due to fraud, administrative malpractice or operational errors, while the level of compensation is to go up from € 20 000 to € 50 000. Investors will also receive better information on when the compensation scheme would apply and get better protection against fraudulent misappropriations where their assets are held by a third party - such as in the recent Madoff affair.

Euro area (EA16) and EU27 GDP both increased by 0.2% during the first quarter of 2010, compared with the previous quarter, according to second estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the fourth quarter of 2009, growth rates were +0.1% in the euro area and +0.2% in the EU27.

A "European Youth Guarantee" to ensure that young people who are unemployed do not remain jobless for more than four months is among proposals made by MEPs in a resolution on improving access to the labour market for young people.

In May 2010, compared with April 2010, the volume of retail trade increased by 0.2% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.4% in the EU27. In April retail trade fell by 0.9% and 1.0% respectively.

The Commission has adopted a report that identifies key issues potentially hampering more efficient and fairer retail services within the Internal Market and is now launching a public consultation on the report to determine future policy priorities in this domain. Reduced accessibility to basic retail services, scarce information on retail offers beyond local markets, slow growth of e-commerce, potentially abusive contractual practices throughout the retail supply chain, lack of transparency on quality labels, unsatisfactory functioning of the retail service labour markets as well as very different approaches to environmentally friendly retail services across the EU have been identified as key issues potentially hampering the retail sector.

The euro area (EA16) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.0% in May 2010, unchanged compared with April. It was 9.4% in May 2009. The EU27 unemployment rate was 9.6% in May 2010, unchanged compared with April. It was 8.9% in May 2009.

In May 2010 compared with April 2010, the industrial producer price index rose by 0.3% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.2% in the EU27. In April 2010, prices increased by 1.0% and 0.8% respectively.