Second Quarter Business Investment 20.1%

Business investment remained almost the same during the second quarter of 2012 according to data from Eurostat. The gross investment rate of non-financial corporations in Q2 was 20.1% in the EU27 compared with 19.9% in Q1 2012. In the euro area the investment rate was 20.3% in Q2 2012 compared with 20.2% in Q1. Investment increased at 0.8%, a greater rate than value added which increased at 0.4%. Stocks fell for the third quarter in a row. The gross profit share of non-financial corporations in the EU27 was 37.7% compared with 37.9% in Q1. Inthe euro area the rate remained stable at 38.1% because value added increased at 0.4% the same rate as pay.