In May 2012, compared with April 2012, seasonally adjusted industrial production grew by 0.6% in the eurozone and by 0.5% in the EU27. In April, production decreased by 1.1% and 0.7%, respectively, according to an Eurostat release dated 12 July.

Production of non-durable consumer goods increased by 1.7% in the eurozone and by 2.2% in the EU27. Capital goods rose by 0.9% in both zones. Durable consumer goods grew by 0.5% in the eurozone and by 0.8% in the EU27. Intermediate goods gained 0.3% in both zones. Production of energy dropped by 2.3% in the eurozone and by 1.7% in the EU27.

The highest increases were registered in Portugal (+4.1%), Sweden (+2%), Latvia (+1.9%) and Germany (+1.5%), and the largest decreases in Lithuania (-16.3%), Slovenia (-3.2%), France (-2.1%) and the Netherlands (-1.6%).

Over a year, in May 2012 compared with May 2011, industrial production dropped by 2.8% in the eurozone and by 2.3% in the EU27. Production of durable consumer goods dropped by 6.4% in the eurozone and by 4.4% in the EU27. Intermediate goods fell by 3.9% and 3.3%, respectively. Non-durable consumer goods decreased by 2.1% in the eurozone and by 1.3% in the EU27. Capital goods declined by 1.9% and 1.4%, respectively. Production of energy dropped by 1.6% in the eurozone and by 2.5% in the EU27.

The largest decreases were registered in Lithuania (-14.8%), Denmark (-9.2%), Italy (-6.9%), Portugal (-6.7%) and Spain (-6.1%), and the highest increases in Latvia (+6%) and Ireland (+4.4%).