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In the fourth quarter of 2009, in both the euro area (EA16) and the EU27, the seasonally adjusted household saving rate was almost unchanged compared with the previous quarter, while the household investment rate decreased. In the euro area, household disposable income fell by 0.2% in real terms.

The euro area (EA16) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.0% in March 2010, the same as in February. It was 9.1% in March 2009. The EU27 unemployment rate was 9.6% in March 2010, unchanged compared with February. It was 8.5% in March 2009.

In April, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) again rose and exceeded its long term average, reaching 101.9 (+2.1 points) in the EU and 100.6 (+2.7) in the euro area. However, coming out of a deep recession clearly means that further sustained improvements will be required for economic activity to reach its pre-crisis levels.

Germany needs a comprehensive strategy for managing regulation in order to encourage innovation and entrepreneurialism and open up new sources of growth, according to the OECD.

The EU 2020 strategy needs quantifiable poverty reduction targets and more effective forms of governance in employment and social policy than the traditional open method of coordination among Member States, said a resolution approved by the Employment and Social Affairs Committee.

Deadlines for paying bills in the business world should be laid down by law for both the private and public sectors, believes the EP Internal Market Committee, which approved amendments to a planned EU directive designed to tackle the problem of late payments. "Let's not forget that the plight of small and medium sized firms is the main reason for this directive", said Barbara Weiler, the MEP responsible for guiding the legislation through Parliament.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the Euro Area increased 1.0 percent and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) remained unchanged in March.

The European strategy for encouraging the development and eventual widespread use of clean and energy efficient vehicles aims to help the European car industry to strengthen its leading role globally basing its production on clean and energy-efficient technologies. This strategy is laid down in a Communication, tabled by the European Commission. It delivers on the consensus between Member States and European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani's commitment to move on from short-term recovery measures to a medium-term orientation that strengthens the competitiveness of the European automotive industry by linking it to clean technologies. The strategy also contributes to the Europe 2020 objectives of smart and sustainable growth. It contains an Action Plan composed of concrete and ambitious measures to be implemented by the Commission.

EU energy efficiency legislation for buildings and the new layout of the EU energy efficiency label were approved by the Industry Committee on Wednesday. These measures - which come in addition to the EU's 2008 climate change package - were agreed with the Council last year and are to be put to a final vote by the full Parliament in May.

Between 2000 and 2009, EU27 exports of goods to Japan fell in value by around 20%, from 45 bn euro to 36 bn, while EU27 imports from Japan decreased by almost 40%, from 92 bn to 56 bn. As a result, the EU27 deficit in trade with Japan decreased from 47 bn in 2000 to 20 bn in 2009 and the share of Japan in the EU27's total external trade in goods fell significantly. In 2009, Japan accounted for 3% of EU27 exports and 5% of EU27 imports, and was the EU27's sixth most important trading partner.