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


In February 2008 compared with January 2008, the euro area EA15 industrial new orders index grew by 0.6%. In January the index grew by 2.2%. In the EU27 new orders remained stable in February 2008 and fell by 1% in January. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment industrial new orders decreased by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU27.
In February 2008 compared with February 2007, industrial new orders increased by 9.9% in the euro area and by 9.2% in the EU27. Total industry excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment grew by 7.2% in the euro area and by 6.3% in the EU27.

Monthly changes

In February 2008 compared with January 2008, new orders for electrical & electronic equipment rose by 1.8% in the euro area and by 2.0% in the EU27. Manufacturing of textiles & textile products grew by 1.7% and 0.6% respectively. Chemicals & chemical products increased by 1.1% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU27. Basic metals & fabricated metal products gained 0.8% in the euro area, but fell by 2.9% in the EU27. Transport equipment decreased by 0.2% in the euro area, but rose by 2.1% in the EU27. Manufacturing of machinery & equipment declined by 0.2% and 2.4% respectively.

In February 2008, among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in fourteen and fell in five. The highest increases were recorded in Latvia (+20.4%), Denmark (+17.7%) and Bulgaria (+11.6%), and the largest decreases in Sweden (-3.4%) and the Czech Republic (-1.2%).

Annual changes

In February 2008 compared with February 2007, new orders for transport equipment increased by 16.6% in the euro area and by 14.8% in the EU27. Manufacturing of electrical & electronic equipment grew by 10.6% and 6.3% respectively. Textiles & textile products rose by 8.7% in the euro area and by 8.5% in the EU27. Manufacturing of machinery & equipment gained 8.2% and 10.8% respectively. Chemicals & chemical products increased by 8.1% in both zones. Basic metals & fabricated metal products grew by 6.8% in the euro area and by 5.3% in the EU27.

In February 2008, among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in eighteen and fell only in Hungary (-5.5%). The highest increases were registered in Latvia (+32.4%), Denmark (+22.1%), Bulgaria (+20.5%) and Lithuania (+20.0%).


Available at:


http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PGP_PRD_CAT_PREREL/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2008/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2008_MONTH_04/4-23042008-EN-AP.PDF