Press release 05.06.12

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

Industrial activity in the Basque Country fell by 9.1% in April 2012

Compared to the previous month, March 2012, the industrial production of the Basque Country fell by 1.5%

Industrial production of the Basque Country in April 2012 was down by 9.1% compared to the same month of 2011, in homogenous terms of the working calendar, according to Eustat data. Compared to the previous month, March 2012, the industrial production of the Basque Country fell by 1.5%, once seasonal effects had been corrected.

By sector, and using the classification of the major industrial sectors, the evolution of the index for April 2012 compared to April 2011 shows noticeable differences. Energy was down by 14.7%, Equipment Goods fell by 9.9%, Intermediate Goods were down by 8.3% and production of Consumer Goods as a whole fell by 6.1% due to the drops experienced both by Consumer Durables, which were down by 11.2%, and Consumer Non-Durables, which fell by 4.8%.

The month-on-month variation in April 2012, compared to March 2012, also registered distinct changes for the main industrial groups. Equipment Goods fell by 0.7%, Intermediate goods fell by 2.2% and Consumer Goods overall were down by 4.7%, with Consumer Non-Durables falling by 4.9% and Consumer Durables posting a downturn of 3.7%, whereas Energy was up by 0.1%.

The only relevant sector to experience growth in April 2012 compared to the same month of the previous year was Food, Beverages & Tobacco, with an increase of 2.4%.

On the other hand, there were decreases in the Electrical Equipment & Material sector, which posted a year-on-year drop of 16.4%, the Plastics & Rubber sector, which fell by 11.0%, and the Transport Material sector, which registered a fall of 7.1%.

By province, the February year-on-year performance for the Industrial Production Index was negative in the three provinces: it was down by 11.5% in Bizkaia, 10.7% in Gipuzkoa and 1.2% in Álava. The month-on-month growth rate was also negative in the three provinces: In Bizkaia it was down 2.9%, in Gipuzkoa it fell by 1.0% and in Álava it dropped by 0.1% compared to March 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)