Seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 0.8% in the eurozone and by 0.4% in the EU27 in April 2012, compared with March 2012. In March, production decreased by 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. Production of capital goods declined by 2.6% in the eurozone and by 1.8% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods decreased by 1.6% and 1.5%, respectively. Intermediate goods fell by 1.2% in the eurozone and by 0.9% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods slipped by 0.9% in the eurozone, but rose by 0.6% in the EU27. Production of energy increased by 6.9% and 5.7%, respectively.

Industrial production fell in six member states, rose in 16 and remained stable in the United Kingdom. The largest decreases were registered in Portugal (-6.5%), Germany (-2%) and Italy (-1.9%), and the highest increases in the Netherlands (+2.9%), Poland (+2.3%) and Malta (+1.9%).

In April 2012, compared with April 2011, industrial production dropped by 2.3% in the eurozone and by 1.7% in the EU27. Production of durable consumer goods dropped by 6.2% in the eurozone and by 4.5% in the EU27. Intermediate goods fell by 4.5% and 3.5%, respectively. Non-durable consumer goods decreased by 3.4% in both zones. Capital goods declined by 0.3% in the eurozone, but rose by 0.4% in the EU27. Production of energy grew by 3.3% and 1.3%, respectively.

The largest decreases were registered in Italy (-9.2%), Spain (-8.3%) and Portugal (-7.6%), and the highest increases in Slovakia (+10.9%), Lithuania (+6.9%) and the Netherlands (+4.7%).