Euro zone industrial output shrinks 2 percent in March, double market expectations

August 31st, 2009 Euro zone prices fall again in AugustBRUSSELS — Euro zone prices fell more slowly in August from a year ago, a sign that the worst of the economic downturn may be over, the EU statistics agency Eurostat said Monday. Inflation in the 16 countries that use the euro stayed negative for the third consecutive month in August as prices shrank 0.2 percent, far less than an 0.7 percent drop in July.

August 24th, 2009 Euro zone industrial orders rise in JuneLONDON — Industrial orders in the 16-nation euro zone rose 3.1 percent in June from the quarter before, official data showed Monday, suggesting the manufacturing sector could be emerging from recession. The European statistics agency Eurostat said new orders — a key gauge of industry's future growth — rose in both France and Germany, which emerged from recession in the second quarter, as well as Ireland, which has been among the hardest-hit by the global economic crisis.

August 21st, 2009 Euro area economy stabilized in AugustLONDON — Further evidence emerged Friday that the 16 countries using the euro are on the verge of growing again following the most savage recession since the Second World War. Financial information company Markit said mounting optimism helped its composite purchasing managers' index — a broad gauge of business activity — for the euro zone rise by a record three points in August to 50.

August 13th, 2009 Euro area economy contracted only 0.1 pct in Q2LONDON — The recession in the 16 countries that use the euro eased substantially between April and June after unexpected growth in Germany and France, the euro zone's two largest economies, official figures showed Thursday. The European Union's statistics office Eurostat revealed that the euro zone's gross domestic product fell by only 0.1 percent in the second quarter from the previous three month period.

August 12th, 2009 BRUSSELS - Industrial production in the 16-nation euro area posted a monthly decline of 0.6 percent in June and plummeted by 17 percent when compared to the same month last year, data released Wednesday showed. The European Union statistics office (Eurostat) said month-on-month output in the 27-member European Union also fell, by 0.2 percent.

July 14th, 2009 Euro industry output down 17 pct in MayBRUSSELS — Industrial output in the 16 nations that use the euro sank 17 percent in May from a year earlier, the EU statistics agency said Tuesday, a somewhat milder drop than in the previous two months. Demand for European goods at home and abroad has slumped dramatically during the downturn.

July 8th, 2009 Euro zone Q1 contraction confirmed at 2.5 percentLONDON — Official figures confirmed that the 16 countries that use the euro saw output shrink by 2.5 percent in the first quarter of 2009 from the previous three month period as the global recession sapped the industrial exports that the euro zone relies on for growth. Though the final estimate left the quarterly rate unchanged, the annual decline was greater than anticipated.

July 7th, 2009 UK mfg output down 1.2 percent in quarterLONDON — The government is reporting that U.K. manufacturing output fell by 1.2 percent in the March-May quarter compared to the previous three months.

July 3rd, 2009 Euro zone retail sales down 0.4 percent in MayLONDON — Retail sales fell in May in the 16 countries that use the euro, in a further sign that consumers aren't optimistic about their future in the midst of a deep and widespread recession. Eurostat, the EU's statistics office, says retail sales in the euro zone fell by 0.4 percent from the previous month.

June 29th, 2009 European economic confidence climbsBRUSSELS — European business and consumer confidence climbed for the third month in a row in June but still languished near its lowest point in two decades, the European Commission said Monday. It said the main players in the economy "seem to be gaining confidence that the crisis is easing" as industrial and services companies expect to be employing more people in future and consumers are worrying less about losing their jobs.

June 12th, 2009 Euro zone industrial output in record fallLONDON — Industrial production in the 16 countries that use the euro slumped in the year to April, official figures showed Friday, more indication that the euro zone may emerge from recession later than the United States or Britain. The European Union's statistics office Eurostat said industrial output a record 21.6 percent annually from March's 19.3 percent.

June 12th, 2009 Euro zone industrial output slumps in AprilLONDON — Industrial production in the 16 countries that use the euro slumped in April, official figures showed Friday, stoking fears that the euro zone remains in the grip of recession despite signs elsewhere that a recovery of sorts may be underway. The European Union's statistics office Eurostat said a 1.9 percent drop in April — the eighth consecutive monthly fall — pushed the annual rate of decline down to a record 21.6 percent.

May 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's industrial output fell for the third consecutive time in four months in March by a steep 2.3 percent compared to the same month last year, according to data released by the government Tuesday. Production in the manufacturing sector declined 3.3 percent during the month under review from the year earlier.

May 6th, 2009 Euro-zone retail sales slide by record 4.2 pctBRUSSELS — Retail trade in the 16 nations that use the euro slid by a record 4.2 percent in March from a year ago, the EU statistics agency said Wednesday, as recession-hit shoppers cut back over worries on rising unemployment. The European Union said some 8.5 million jobs will disappear this year and next year as the economies of both the euro area and the 27-nation European Union shrink by 4 percent.

April 29th, 2009 European economic confidence bounces backBRUSSELS — European business and consumer confidence bounced back in April for the first time in nearly two years, the European Commission said Wednesday. The EU executive said its monthly survey of companies and shoppers across the European Union and in the 16 countries that share the euro showed more optimism for the first time since May 2007, rising from record lows.