Press Release 05.07.12

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

Industrial activity in the Basque Country fell by 7.5% in May 2012

Compared to the previous month, April 2012, the industrial production of the Basque Country grew by 1.7%.

Industrial production of the Basque Country in May 2012 was down by 7.5% compared to the same month of 2011, in homogenous terms of the working calendar, according to Eustat data. Compared to the previous month, April 2012, the industrial production of the Basque Country rose by 1.7%, once seasonal effects had been corrected.

By sector, and using the classification of the major industrial sectors, the evolution of the index for May 2012 compared to May 2011 shows noticeable differences. Energy was down by 13.5%, Intermediate Goods fell by 9.5%, Equipment Goods were down by 2.3% and production of Consumer Goods as a whole fell by 5.9% due to the drops experienced both by Consumer Durables, which were down by 8.0%, and Consumer Non-Durables, which fell by 5.3%.

The month-on-month variation in May 2012, compared to April 2012, also registered distinct changes for the main industrial groups. Energy fell by 2.1% and Intermediate Goods fell by 0.5%, whereas Equipment Goods were up by 3.6% and Consumer Goods overall rose by 1.2%, with Consumer Durables and Consumer Non-Durables growing by 5.7% and 0.1%, respectively.

The only relevant sector to experience growth in May 2012 compared to the same month of the previous year was Transport Material, with an increase of 1.0%.

On the other hand, there were decreases in the Plastics & Rubber sector, which posted a year-on-year drop of 20.9%, the Electricity, Gas & Steam sector, which fell by 10.8%, and the Timber, Paper & Graphic Arts sector, which registered a fall of 9.4%.

By province, the year-on-year performance of the Industrial Production Index for the month of May was negative in the three provinces: it was down by 8.4% in Álava, in Bizkaia it fell by 7.6% and it was down 6.9% in Gipuzkoa. The month-on-month growth rate was negative in Álava, where it was down by 2.7%, but in Gipuzkoa it grew by 3.9% and in Bizkaia it was up 1.9% on April 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)