Producer Prices Up By 0.2% In Euro Area

Industrial producer prices in the euro area increased by 0.2% in February 2013. In the EU27 the increase was 0.4% according to Eurostat. In January 2013 prices increased by 0.4% in both zones.

The monthly analysis shows prices in industry excluding the energy sector increased by 0.1% in both zones. Energy prices increased 0.4% and 1.3% respectively. Capital goods prices rose by 0.1% in the euro area and 0.2% in the EU27. Durables and non-durables both increased by 0.1% in both zones and intermediate goods remained stable.

The annual comparison shows that prices rose by 1.3% in both zones, excluding energy the increase was 1.2% in both zones. Energy prices rose by 1.6% and 1.4% respectively. Non-durables prices increased by 2.3% in the euro area and by 2.4% in the EU27 and in both zones capital goods increased by 0.8%, intermediate goods and durable goods prices increased by 0.7%.

European Production Down In December

Industrial production fell by 0.1% in Europe in December in both the euro area and the EU27 compared with November 2010. When December 2010 is compared with December 2009 industrial production increased by 8% in the euro area and 7.7% in the EU27. The average production index increased by 7.1% in the euro area and 6.7% in ther EU27 over the same period.

Looking at the main industrial production sectors in the monthly comparison energy grew by 2.4% in the euro area and 1.7% in EU27. Non-durables fell by 0.3% in the euro area and 0.2% in EU27 and durables decreased by 1% and 0.1% respectively. Intermediate goods fell by 1.3% in both areas. The annual comparison shows that capital goods grew by 14.8% in the euro area and 14.5% in the EU27 while intermediate goods grew by 7.8% and 7.9% respectively. Energy increased by 5.8% in the euro area and 3.8% in EU27. Non-durables grew by 1.9% in the euro area and 2.5% in EU27 and durables by 2.1% and 1.8% respectively.

Manufacturing Increases 5.8%

Production increased by 3.3% in October according to the index of production from the ONS. Manufacturing increased by 5.8%. The main contributors to the increase in the manufacturing index were an increase of 1.4% in machinery and equipment and 1.3% from basic metals and metal products. Capital goods increased by 8.4% and intermediate goods and energy by 1.2%. Mining and quarrying fell by 7.2%, oil and gas extraction alone by 8%. Electricity, gas and water supply increased by 0.7%. Consumer durables fell by 5.2% while non-durables increased by 4.3%.

Ageing In The European Union

Ageing in the context of EU statistics is the increase over time of the percentage share of the over 65 age group in the total population of a given area. It is increasing in the EU because of two factors. The first is that the number of people over 65 is growing and the second is because the number of children in age group 0-14 year is getting smaller. This is a general picture though and there are considerable variations in the types of area and NUTS3 areas.

The release from Eurostat tells us that rural areas are losing their young people faster than urban areas. It presents the populaton changes in 1158 NUTS3 areas of 26 member states (not UK) between 2001-2006. It takes the level of rurality of NUTS3 into account for three age groups - 0-14, 15-64, 65 and over. The changes mean variations in the population's composition.

The total population of EU27 has increased by 1.9% or 8,217,047 people with an increase of 9,708,045 people in the EU15 offset by a decrease in the new member states of 1,490,998 people or -1.4%. The 0-14 age group has decreased by 4.4%, the 15-64 age group increased by 1.9% and the over 65s by 8.9% or 5,961,157 people. A contrast can be seen between the 'old' and 'new' member states. In the new member states the 0-14 age group shrank by 14% and the over 65s increased by 5.3%. The over 65s in the EU15 increeased by 9.8%.

The types of area (TOA) analysis also show remarkable results. Ageing continues at a more pronounced rate in predominantly urban areas (46%), except in Spain and remained the same in Ireland and Sweden. Only 16.5% of the increase can be attributed to rural areas in EU27 where 21.4% of the population live. The combined effect of the two factors influencing population change mean that Germany, Greece and Latvia show a rapidly ageing population while France, Spain, Portugal and Italy, where over 20% of the population in rural areas is over 65, show smaller and even negative growth. In Bulgaria there has been a 5% population loss overall with a 10% loss in predominantly rural areas. It is also significant that in there areas the percentage of children fell by up to 17%. Also in Bulgaria where the number of over 65s fell by 4% they were not replaced by numbers from the working population.

The highest population gains at NUTS3 level were in Spain and Ireland with Guadalajara in Spain, an intermediate area, gaining 24.5% in population. At the other extreme Bulgaria and Germany decreased the most in population. The population of Kardzhali in Bulgaria, a predominantly rural area, decreased by 21%. The German areas were exclusively in the former East Germany. Barnim in Germany, an intermediate area, saw the highest increase in people aged 65 and over with an increase of 33.3% with Neubrandenburg on 33.2% and Potsdam on 32.9%. Vratsa, a predominantly rural area in Bulgaria, saw an decrease of 15.9% in the same age group. The highest increase in the over 65 age group was in Germany and the growth was not limited to the east but covered large areas of the west as well.

There were contrasts between east and west Germany and between north and south Italy. Only Berlin in eastern Germany grew in population size. Areas of northern Italy grew while the population of the south of Italy decreased.

Deficit In Trade In April Up £0.1bn

The UK still has a deficit on trade in goods and services. In April the deficit was £3.3bn compared with £3.2bn in March. The deficit on trade in goods was £7.3bn but services still reported a surplus of £4bn compared with £4.1bn in March. Total exports of services fell by £0.1bn to £13.4bn and imports of services fell to £9.4bn.

Comparing April with March 2010 the main contributors to the difference were an increase of £171m from the export of cars, £130m from the export of chemicals and £125m from the export of consumer goods. There were decreases of £194m in intermediate goods and £201m in the export of aircraft. Sectors that made a significant difference on the import side were ships with an increase in value of £225m and £249m from the import of oil. Offsetting these were a decrease in the import semi-manufactured goods (other than chemicals) to the value of £392m and a decrease to the value of £159m from the import of consumer goods (other than cars).

The deficit on trade in goods with the EU increased slightly in April by £0.1bn to £3.3bn . Over the three months to April the deficit was £1.2bn smaller at £9.4bn. EU exports increased by £1.3bn to £34.4bn and EU imports by £0.1bn to £43.9bn.

As export prices fell by 0.2% and import prices increased by 0.2% in April compared with March, there was a decrease in the terms of trade. If oil is excluded, export prices fell by 1% and import prices fell by 0.2%. Over the quarter, there was a decrease in the terms of trade as export prices increased by 3.3% and import prices increased by 3.6%. Expoprt prices increased by 2.5% and import prices by 2.8% if the oil price effect is excluded. The balance of trade in oil in April was a deficit of £0.4bn. Oil exports were £2.7bn and imports £3.1bn. Over the quarter the balance of trade in oil was in deficit by £0.7bn. There was an increase in value of £0.6bn in exports to £7.9bn and an increase of £0.7bn in imports to £8.6bn.

Fall In Farm Incomes In 2009

Farm incomes are estimated to have fallen in 2009 according to the most recent statistics from Defra. Total income from farming (TIFF) fell by 5.7% in 2009 to £4.07bn. There was a decrease in the value of output, a fall in input costs and an increase in the Single Payment. Farm business income (FBI) on specialist pig, specialist poultry, LFA and lowland grazing livestock farms is expected to increase in 2009/10. On general cropping and specialist cereal farms FBI is expected to fall.

The value of output fell by 3.2%, though there was a significant variation between sectors. Cereals (-25%), oilseeds (-23%), potatoes (-16%) and milk (-9.7%) fell in value, whereas cattle (6.4%), sheep (21%) and pigs (17%) increased in value. The total value of output at market prices fell by 3.1% to £19.3bn. The value of intermediate consumption, items like maintenance, services, feed, fuel, fertilisers and sprays, fell 1.1% and the Gross Value Added (GVA) for the industry fell 6.2% to £7.1bn. Input costs fell by 2.2%. The cost of fuel and animal feed fell by 17% and 7.3% respectively but that was partly offset by increases in other costs.

Low Production Figures But Non-Durables Up

The index of production for the first quarter saw a 5.3% decrease quarter on quarter and 12.1% decrease on the first quarter of 2008. Manufacturing was 5.5% lower and electricity, gas and water decreased 3.5% on the previous quarter. Manufacturing also showed the lowest rate of decline for 13 consecutive months with a 0.1% decrease between February and March. The March index was 88.0.

In the main industrial groups output of durable goods fell 8.0% on previous quarter, consumer non-durable goods went up 0.3% on February, capital itmes were 8.9% lower and intermediate goods and energy 6.6% lower than last quarter. Other significant falls included machinery and equipment.