Euro zone industrial goods up 2.6%

New orders for industrial goods rose by 2.6 per cent in the euro zone in July, according to new Eurostat figures released today.

However, Ireland recorded the largest decreases in orders, the new data reveals.

In July new orders for durable consumer goods increased by 5.6 per cent in the euro zone and by 6.9 per cent in the EU27.

During the month capital goods grew by 2.9 per cent in the euro zone, while intermediate foods rose 2.8 per cent. Non-durable goods decreased by 1.8 per cent.

For the European Union as a while, captial goods fell by 1.8 per cent in July while intermediate goods were up by 4.1 per cent. Non-durable goods declined. by 1.6 per cent.

Among the Member States for which data is available, the highest increases in orders were seen in Sweden, Poland and Denmark. The largest decrease was in Ireland at -8.5 per cent.

In June, new orders for industrial goods rose faster in Ireland than anywhere else in the euro zone. with orders rising by 14.8 per cent month-on-month compared with a 3.1 per cent rise for the euro zone as a whole.

New orders for industrial goods in the European Union as a whole rose by 1.6 per cent after falling by 0.6 per cent the preceeding month.

Over the year to the end of July, industrial new orders decreased by 24.3 per cent in the euro zone and by 24.9 per cent in the European Union as a whole.