Europe's industrial output down in February

By Yunus Girgin

ANKARA (AA) - Industrial production in Europe dropped this February compared to the same month last year, the bloc's statistical authority said on Wednesday.

The figure fell in the EU and eurozone by 1.1% and 1.6% respectively, according to a statement by Eurostat.

The eurozone/euro area, or EA19, represents member states that use the single currency – euro – while the EU27 includes all member countries of the bloc.

Among member states for which data are available, the highest rises were seen in Ireland (41.4%), Lithuania (9.7%) and Finland (5.6%), while the steepest declines were in Malta (10.9%), Estonia (negative 8.9%) and France (negative 6.4%).

In the EU, production of durable consumer goods during the same period rose 2.4% and intermediate goods 0.5%, while production of non-durable consumer goods fell 3.8%, capital goods 2.4%, and energy 1.5%.

On a monthly basis, industrial output also declined 0.9% in the EU and 1% in the eurozone in February versus January.