European Industries See Increase In New Orders

European industries experienced an increase in new orders in August 2011 compared with July and with August 2010. The euro area index rose by 1.9% on the month and 6.2% over the year. The EU27 increases were 0.4% over the month and 6.5% over the year.

New orders for capital goods increased 2.7% in the euro area between July and August and 1.1% in EU27, non-durables increased 1.2% and 0.5% respectively, durable consumer goods fell by 0.8% and 1.8%. Intermediate goods orders grew by 1.1% in both zones. Durable consumer goods orders also fell on the annual comparison, 3.1% in the euro area and 8.4% in EU27. Capital goods orders rose by 7.8% in the euro area and 8.2% in the EU27 and intermediate goods orders by 6.1% and 6.9% respectively.