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In March 2009 compared with February 2009, the euro area1 (EA16) industrial new orders index2 fell by 0.8%. In February3 the index remained unchanged. In the EU271 new orders declined by 0.7% in March 2009, after dropping by 1.2% in February3. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment4, for which changes tend to be more volatile, industrial new orders decreased by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU27.

In March 2009 compared with March 2008, industrial new orders decreased by 26.9% in the euro area and by 25.5% in the EU27. Total industry excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment4 dropped by 26.6% in the euro area and by 24.9% in the EU27.

These estimates are released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European

Monthly changes

In March 2009 compared with February 2009, new orders for intermediate goods fell by 1.6% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods decreased by 1.8% and 0.5% respectively. Capital goods dropped by 2.1% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods declined by 2.5% in the euro area, but increased by 0.2% in the EU27.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in eight and fell in thirteen. The highest increases were registered in Denmark (+44.0%), Portugal (+25.6%) and Hungary (+19.9%), and the largest decreases in Lithuania (-8.2%), Slovenia (-7.6%) and Bulgaria (-7.1%).

Annual changes

In March 2009 compared with March 2008, new orders for non-durable consumer goods fell by 3.8% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods declined by 17.6% and 16.7% respectively. Capital goods decreased by 29.9% in the euro area and by 29.0% in the EU27. Intermediate goods dropped by 30.2% and 28.1% respectively.

Among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders fell in nineteen and increased only in Denmark (+14.2%) and Portugal (+0.3%). The largest falls were registered in Slovenia (-43.4%), Bulgaria (-42.7%), Spain (-34.4%) and Lithuania (-34.2%).