Industrial production down by 0.6 pct in EU

In December 2011 compared with November 2011, industrial production fell by 0.6 percent in the 27-member EU and by 1.1 percent in the 17-member euro area, according to figures released today by Eurostat, the EU's statistical office. In December 2011 compared with December 2010, industrial production dropped by 2.0 percent in the euro area and by 0.9 percent in the EU. In December 2011 compared with November 2011, production of energy fell by 2.0 percent in the euro area and by 1.2 percent in the EU. In December 2011 compared with December 2010, production of energy fell by 11.9 percent in the euro area and by 10.6 percent in the EU. Among the EU Member States for which data are available, industrial production fell in twelve and rose in eleven. The largest decreases were registered in Malta (-2.9 percent), Germany (-2. 7 percent), Greece and Latvia (both -2.4% percent), and the highest increases in Denmark (+3.3 percent), Finland (+2.6 percent) and Ireland (+2.5 percent).