Inflation Down By 0.1% In Europe

Consumer inflation fell in both areas of the EU in November according to a statistical bulletin from Eurostat. Inflation in the euro area fell by 0.1% from 0.4% in October to 0.3% in November 2014. In the EU28 similarly the rate of inflation fell from 0.5% in October to 0.4% in November.

There were negative annual rates in Bulgaria, Greece, Spain and Poland with Bulgaria showing a rate of -1.9%. The highest rates were in Romania and Austria with annual rates of 1.5% and Finland on 1.1%.

Euro Inflation Down To 0.3%

Euro area annual inflation was 0.3% in September 2014, the lowest rate since October 2009 according to Eurostat. In August the rate was 0.4%. In September 2013 the rate was 1.1%. The monthly inflation rate in September 2014 was 0.4%.

In The European Union as a whole annual inflation was 0.4% in September 2014 down from 0.5% in August. It is the lowest rate since September 2009. In September 2013 the rate was 1.3%. The monthly rate in September 2014 was 0.3%.

High negative inflation growth was reported in Bulgaria (-1.4%) and Greece (-1.1%) and high annual rates were reported in Romania (1.8%), Finland (1.5%) and Austria (1.4%).

Industrial Production Is Down 0.4% In Europe

Industrial production fell in both the euro area and the EU27 in January by 0.4% in both zones. In December they both grew.

Durable consumer goods production fell by 1.4% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU27 in January 2013 compared with December 2012. Non-durables invcreased by 0.9% and 1.3% respectively. Capital goods fell by 1.2% in both zones. Intermediate goods production grew by 0.1% in the euro area but fell by 0.1% in the EU27. Energy production decreased by 1% in the euro area and by 1.2% in the EU27.

The data available tells us that in Jnuary compared with December industrial production rose in nine countries and fell in nine. The highest increases were in Lithuania and Denmark and the largest decreases were in Finland and Luxembourg.

The annual comparison shows that production of durables fell by 5.5% in the euro area and 4.3% in the EU27. Production of non-durables increased by 3.1% and 2.2% respectively. Capital goods fell by 2.6% in both zones and energy production increased by 0.9% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27. Intermediate goods production fell by 3.1% and 3.4% respectively.

The largest increases over the year were in Bulgaria and Lithuania and the decreases were in Sweden and Finland. There were increases in seven countries and decreases in eleven.

Increases In Retail Trade On Europe's High Streets

The volume of retail trade rose by 1.2% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU27 in January compared with December according to data from Eurostat. In December trade had fallen by 0.8% and 0.7% respectively. The annual comparison shows that sales fell by 1.3% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU27 in January 2013 compared with January 2012.

The monthly comparison shows that the countries with the greatest increases in January were Portugal and Romania with 4.2% with the largest decreases in Denmark (-2%), Malta (1.6%) and Finland (-1.2%). The annual comparison shows that the largest increases were in Belgium (8.4%) and Luxembourg (7.1%) and the biggest decreases were in Slovenia (-7.6%), Bulgaria (-5.5%) and Portugal (-3.9%).

Industrial Prices Fall In December But Increase Over The Year

The industrial producer price index published by Eurostat fell by 0.2% in both the euro area and the EU27 in December compared with November 2012. The index increased 2.1% in the euro area and 1.9% in the EU27 using the annual comparison for December. The average industrial producer price index for the whole of 2012 compared with 2011 increased by 2.6% in the euro area and 2.7% in the EU27.

Total industry prices excluding energy were stable in both zones in December. Capital goods and intermediate goods remained stable. Durable consumer goods decreased by 0.1% in both zones and non-durable goods increased by 0.1% in both zones.

Prices fell in most Member States for which data was available except Belgium and Sweden (+1.2%) and Finland (+0.2%). Bulgaria, Denmark, Cyprus and Austria recorded the largest decreases over the month. Over the year, total industry prices, excluding energy, increased by 1.6% in both zones.

Europe Increased Production In August

Industrial production in Europe increased by 0.6% in the euro area and 0.3% in the EU27 in August compared with July according to a statistical bulletin from Eurostat. When comparing August 2012 with August 2011 industrial production fell by 2.9% in the euro area and 1.8% in the EU27. The highest increases were in Portugal (6.8%), Lithuania (4.6%), Slovenia (4%) and Greece (2.5%). The largest decreases were in Czech Republic (-2.9%), Denmark (-2.8% and Romania and Finland (both -1.1%).

Producer Prices Up Across Europe

Industrial producer prices (IPP) rose across Europe in August in both zones. In the euro area the IPP rose by 0.9% and in the EU27 by 1%. Both zones increased by 0.3% in July. Compared with 2011 the IPP increased by 2.7% in both zones. The main differences were in the energy sector with a 2.4% and 3.2% increase in the euro area and the EU27 respectively and in intermediate goods with increases of 0.5% in the euro area and 0.4% in the EU27. The highest increases in producer prices were to be found in Denmark (2.9%), the UK (1.8%) and Finland (1.7%). The lowest increases wwere found in Slovenia (0.1%) and Latvia (0.3%).

Shares Of Renewable Energy In Total Consumption

Renewable energy seems to have contributed 10.3% of gross final energy consumption in the EU27 in 2008. It compares with 9.7% in 2007 and 8.8% in 2006. Individual targets are set for all Member States by the 2009 Directive so that the EU will reach a target of 20% share of total energy consumption for renewable energy sources by 2020.

Renewable energy shares vary widely among Member States. Sweden had the highest share of renewable energy in total consumption in 2008 with 44.4%, Finland had 30.5%, Latvia had 29.9%, Austria 28.5% and Portugal had 23.2%. The lowest was Malta with 0.2%. The UK was third lowest with 2.2% of renewable energy in total consumption. All Member States increased their share of renewable energy in total consumption between 2006-8. The largest increases were in Austria from 24.8% to 28.5%, Estonia from 16.1% to 19.1%, Romania from 17.5% to 20.4%, Portugal from 20.5% to 23.2% and Slovakia from 6.2% to 8.4%.