Eurozone industrial production down by 17.1% in April 2020

According to the report from Eurostat, in April 2020, the COVID-19 containment measures widely introduced by Member States continued to have a significant impact on industrial production. The seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 17.1% in the euro area and by 17.3% in the EU, compared with March 2020. These are the largest monthly falls recorded since the start of the series, significantly higher than the 3% to 4% drops seen in late 2008 and early 2009 during the financial crisis.

In April 2020 compared with April 2019, industrial production decreased by 28.0% in the euro area and by 27.2% in the EU. These are the largest annual falls recorded since the start of the series, exceeding the -21.3% in the euro area and -20.7% in the EU observed in April 2009. Overall, industrial production in the euro area and EU has fallen to levels last seen in the mid-1990s.

In the euro area in April 2020, compared with March 2020, production of durable consumer goods fell by 28.9%, capital goods by 26.6%, intermediate goods by 15.6%, non-durable consumer goods by 11.9% and energy by 4.8%. In the EU, production of durable consumer goods fell by 27.8%, capital goods by 27.3%, intermediate goods by 14.9%, non-durable consumer goods by 10.7% and energy by 5.0%.