Press release 04.04.12

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INDEX OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY (IPI) FEBRUARY 2012

Industrial activity in the Basque Country fell by 4.9% in February 2012

Compared to the previous month, January 2012, the industrial production of the Basque Country grew by 0.1%.

Industrial production of the Basque Country in February 2012 fell 4.9% compared to the same month of 2011, in homogenous terms of the working calendar, according to Eustat data. Compared to the previous month, January 2012, the industrial production of the Basque Country rose by 0.1%, once seasonal effects had been corrected.

By sector, and using the classification of the major industrial sectors, the evolution of the index for February 2012 compared to February 2011 shows noticeable differences. Equipment Goods rose by 2.6%, Intermediate Goods fell by 7.1% and production of Consumer Goods as a whole fell by 6.4%, due to the drop experienced, above all, by Consumer Durables, which were down by 8.3%, whilst Consumer Non-Durables fell by 5.9%. Energy fell by 12.7%.

The month-on-month variation in February 2012, compared to January 2012, also registered distinct changes for the main industrial groups. Intermediate Goods fell by 0.8%, Equipment Goods fell by 0.5% and Energy posted an increase of 2.3%. Consumer Goods as a whole fell by 3.5%, with Consumer Non-Durables dropping 4.4% and Consumer Durables doing so by 0.1%.

Amongst the relevant sectors that experienced growth in the month of February 2012 compared to the same month of the previous year, only Machinery & Equipment stood out with a growth rate of 13.0%.

On the other hand, there were decreases in the Plastics & Rubber sector, which posted a year-on-year drop of 9.1%, the Timber, Paper & Graphic Arts sector, which fell by 8.8% and the Food, Beverages & Tobacco sector, which registered a fall of 8.7%.

By province, the February year-on-year performance for the Industrial Production Index was negative in the three provinces: it was down by 8.4% in Bizkaia, 5.4% in Álava and 1.2% in Gipuzkoa. The month-on-month growth rate was negative in Álava, where it fell by 3.6%, whilst there were rises in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa of 1.1% in both cases, compared to January 2012.

For further information:

Basque Statistics Office C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz Tel: +34-945-01 75 00 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01 E-mail: eustat@eustat.eus Contact: Gerardo Pérez Aja Tel: +34-945-01 75 06 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01 Further press releases on Industrial Production Index of the Basque Country (IPI). Databank on Industrial Production Index of the Basque Country (IPI)