House Prices Fall In Euro Area

House prices in the euro area fell by 0.3% as measured by the House Price Index (HPI) and increased by 1% in the EU during the first quarter of 2014 compared with the same period last year. When compared with the fourth quarter of 2013 the HPI fell by 0.3% in the euro area and rose by 0.2% in the EU according to Eurostat.

The biggest annual falls in house prices according to the HPI were in Croatia with -9.7%, Slovenia -6.6% and Cyprus -5.7%. The biggest increases were in Estonia with 17.5% and Latvia with 10.4%. The UK was next with an increase of 8%. The biggest falls over the quarter were in Croatia with -2.7%, Luxembourg with -2.3% and Slovenia -1.7%. THe highest increases were in Estonia with an increase of 4.8%, Sweden with an increase of 2.4% and the UK with an increase of 2.2%.

H&M 11% Sales Development In February

H&M Recently published their sales development figures for February and first quarter figures for 2014. Sales values for February including VAT increased by 11% in terms of local currencies compared with February of last year.

First quarter figures (December 2013 to February 2014) show that sales increased by 12% including VAT in local currencies compared with the same quarter last year. When the figures are converted into Swedish Krone sales increased by 13% and totalled SEK 37,524m including VAT.

The total number of stores increased by 374 from 2818 in February 2013 to 3192 in February 2014.

Production Down Across Europe In May

Seasonally adjusted figures for industrial production fell by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU27 compared with April according to Eurostat. Production had increased in April by 0.5% and 0.3% respectively.

The production of consumer durables decreased by 2.3% in the euro area and 2.1% in the EU27. Capital goods decreased by by 1.5% and 1.9% respectively and intermediate goods by 0.4% and 0.2% respectively. Energy rose by 0.1% in the euro area and fell by 0.3% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods increased by 0.6% in the euro area and fell by 0.1% in the EU27.

Nationally, the largest decreases were in Romania (-10.7%), Lithuania (-6.3%) and Sweden (-3.8%). Portugal (6.1%), Latvia (2.2%) and Estonia (2%) saw the largest increases.

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.

Healthy Life Years To Go

Healthy life years measure the number of years a person can expect to live in a generally healthy condition. At birth, in 2011, men and women in the EU27 could expect to live to 62 years. At 50 people could expect to live another 18 years and at 65 people in Europe culd expect another 9 healthy years of life.

A healthy condition is defined as the absence of limitations to functioning/disability. It is measured by a self-perceived questionnaire asking for the extent of any limitations lasting for over 6 months and caused by a health problem. The indicator of healthy life years measures the number of years a person can expect to live without any serious health problems. It means the respondenets can carry on their usual activities.

At birth, men and women in Sweden and Malta can expect to live to over 70 years. The lowest numbers of healthy life years were 52 in Slovakia and 54 in Slovenia for both men and women. At 50 both women and men were expected to have more than another 20 years in Sweden, Malta and Denmark, Luxembourg, Ireland and the UK. The lowest was Slovakia with 10 years for both men and women. At 65, highest healthy life years were in Sweden with an additional 15 years for women and 14 for men and the lowest Was Slovakia with 3 and 4 years respectively.

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.

European Inflation Falls In October

Inflation in Europe fell in October according to Eurostat. Euro area inflation fell 0.1% from 2.6% in September to 2.5% in October. EU annual inflation was 2.6% in October down from 2.7% in September. The annual comparison also shows a decrease in inflation in the euro area from 3% and in the EU27 from 3.4% last year. The lowest annual rates in October were seen in Greece, Sweden and Latvia and the highest in Hungary, Romania and Estonia. The lowest annual averages were in Sweden, Greece and Ireland and the highest in Hungary, Estonia and Poland. In the euro area the main components for annual rates were transport, alcohol and tobacco and housing and the lowest in communiactions, recreation and culture, clothing and household equipment. The monthly rate were mainly affected by clothing and education, alcohol and tobacco and the lowest for transport, communications, recreation and culture and hotels and restaurants.

Retail Sales Down 0.4% In Euro Area

Euro area retail trade fell by 0.4% in terms of volume in December 2011 compared with November while it grew by 0.3% in the EU27 over the same period. Food, drinks and tobacco fell by 0.2% in the euro area and grew by 0.3% in the EU27. Non-food sector categories grew by 0.3% in the EU27 but fell by 0.1% in the euro area.

Total retail trade fell in eleven states and grew in eight states remaining stable in Ireland and Sweden. The highest increases were in Portugal (2.2%), Belgium (1.5%) and Poland (0.7%) and the biggest decreases were in Malta and Slovenia (both -3.1%) and Latvia (-2%).

The annual comparison shows that in December 2011 compared with December 2010 the food, drinks and tobacco sector fell by 1.3% in the euro area and 0.6% in the EU27 and the non-food sector decreased by 1.5% in the euro area but grew by 0.8% in the EU27. The total retail sales index for the EU27 shows growth of 0.1% but in the euro area a fall of 1.6%.

Trade fell in ten states but rose in eleven. The largest increases were in Lithuania (13%), Latvia (7.1%) and the UK (6.3%). The biggest falls in trade were recorded in Portugal (-8.8%), Spain (-5.3%) and Slovakia (-3.3%) (Eurostat).

Producer Prices Up In Europe

The industrial producer prices index by Eurostat increased by 0.2% in the euro area in November 2011 and by 0.3% in the EU27 compared with October. When compared with November 2010 the index went up by 5.3% in the euro area and by 6.3% in the EU27.

Total industry prices excluding energy fell by 0.1% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27 in the monthly comparison. Energy prices increased by 0.9% and 0.1% respectively. Non-durable consumer goods increased by 0.3% in both areas and durables by 0.2%. Intermediate goods fell by 0.4% and 0.3% respectively and capital goods remained stable.

In the annual comparison total industry prices increased by 3% in the euro area and by 3.3% in the EU27. Energy prices increased by 12.3% and 13.8% respectively. Prices in the non-durable goods sector increased by 3.6% in the euro area and 4.2% in the EU27, intermediate goods by 3.5% and 3.8% respectively, durables by 2.6% in both zones and capital goods by 1.4% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU27.

Sweden reported the largest increases on the monthly comparison with 1.6%, followed by the UK, Ireland and Greece. Using the annual comparison, the greates increases were in the UK with 11.6% followed by Lithuania (10.8%) and Latvia (9.1%).

UK Inflation Highest In Europe

Euro area annual inflation was unchanged from October at 3% in November. Monthly inflation was 0.1%. EU annual inflation was also unchanged from October at 3.4%. Monthly inflation was 0.2%.

The lowest annual rates among member states were in Sweden (1.1%), Malta (1.5%) and Ireland (1.7%). The highest inflation rates in November were in Slovenia and the UK (both 4.8%).

Euro Industry Increases Production By 0.9%

Industrial production in the euro area (EU16) increased by 0.9% over the month to May 2010 and by 9.4% over the year. In the EU27 production grew by 0.5% over the month and by 8.7% over the year to May 2010.

The production of durable consumer goods increased by 2.4% in the euro area and by 1.8% in the EU27 in May compared with April. Capital goods increased by 1% and 1.7% respectively and intermediate goods by 0.8% in both the euro area and the EU27. Energy production increased by 0.6% and 1.3% in the euro area and the EU27 respectively and non-durables grew by 0.6% and 0.9%. Production increased in 16 Member States and fell in 6. The highest increase was in Ireland with 7.5%.

Over the year from May 2009 to May 2010 production of intermediate goods increased by 14.7% in the euro area and 13.7% in the EU27. Capital goods increased by 8.6% and 9% in the euro area and the EU27 respectively. Energy production increased by 5.7% and 4.3%. Durables grew by 6.3% in the euro area and 7.7% in the EU27 and non-durables by 3.7% and 3.3% respectively. Industrial production increased in all Member States over the year with the biggest increases in Estonia with 17.2% and Luxembourg with 13.5% and Sweden with 13.4%, Latvia with 13.2% and Germany with 13.1%.

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%.

GDP Up 0.2% In Europe

EU GDP increased by 0.2% during the first quarter of 2010 according to a news release from Eurostat. GDP in both the euro area and the EU27 rose by the same amount in the quarter according to these second estimates.

These figures compare with the 0.1% and 0.2% growth in GDP in the euro area and the EU27 rspectively in the last quarter of 2009. In comparison with the first quarter of 2009 GDP rose by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU27 after falling by 2.1% and 2.3% respectively in the previous quarter.

The Member States which data are available show that Ireland recorded the highest GDP growth with 2.7%, then Sweden with 1.4% and Portugal with 1.1% growth on the previous quarter. Comparing the same quarter of the previous year, Slovakia recorded the highest GDP growth with 4.5%. GDP in the US grew by 0.7% and Japan by 1.2% in the first quarter 2010. When compared with the same quarter last year the US GDP has grown by 2.4% and Japan's GDP by 4.2%.

Among the various components of GDP household final consumption expenditure decreased by 0.1% in the euro area and the EU27. Investments fell by 1.2% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27. Exports increased by 2.1% in the euro area and by 2% in the EU27 and imports rose by 3.8% and 3.4% respectively.

Volume Of Retail Trade In Europe

The volume of retail trade in May compared to April 2010 increased by 0.2% in the euro area and 0.4% in the EU27. The May 2010 on May 2009 volume increased by 0.3% and 0.5% respectively.

In May 2010 compared to April 2010, food, drink and tobacco went up 0.2% in the euro area and 0.3% in EU27, non-food increased 0.4% and 0.5% respectively. The greatest increases were in Denmark, Poland and Estonia and the greatest decreases in Malta and Portugal.

Over the year from May 2009 to May 2010 food, drnk and tobacco increrased 0.3% in the euro area and 0.2% in the EU27 and non-food 1% and 1.9% respectively. The highest increases were in France, Sweden and UK and the greatest decreases were in Lithuania, Bulagaria and Latvia.