Euro-zone Construction Up 1.2%; Spain

Arthi Gupta
19 Sep, 2011
New York City

Euro area construction output rose, Greek industrial orders and turnover soared, but Spanish industrial orders slumped in July. Finnish producer price inflation eased in August. Spanish government debt rose in the second quarter.

[R]1:30 PM Frankfurt – Euro area construction output rose, Greek industrial orders and turnover soared, but Spanish industrial orders slumped in July. Finnish producer price inflation eased in August. Spanish government debt rose in the second quarter.[/R]

Euro-zone Construction Output Up

Construction output in the euro area increased 1.2% from last year in July from a revised 11.5% decrease in June, latest data released by Eurostat showed today.

Output in EU27 edged higher 0.2% in July, following the 8% fall in June.

On a monthly basis, construction output in the euro-zone rose a seasonally adjusted 1.4% in July, after dropping a revised 1.3% in June. In EU27, production rose 0.3% in July, reversing the 1.1% decline in June.

Spanish Government Debt Rises

The Spanish government debt rose to 65.2% of Gross Domestic Product in the second quarter, the Bank of Spain reportedly said on Friday. The regional government debt also increased to 12.4% of GDP.

Spanish Orders Slump

New industrial orders in Spain increased 1.5% from a year ago in July compared to the 4.9% growth in June, data released by the National institute of statistics showed.

Separately, the agency said Spanish industrial turnover increased 3.9% annually in July, slower than the 5.2% growth in June.

Greek Industrial Orders, Turnover Soar

New orders in the Greek industrial sector grew 2.7% on an annual basis in July, from the 3.3% decline in June, data released by the Hellenic Statistics Authority showed.

Separately, the agency said turnover in Greek industries surged 18.9% on an annual basis in July, as against the 1.1% rise in June. Turnover in the domestic market grew 5.9% annually, and in the non-domestic market surged 47.8% from last year.

Finnish PPI Eases

Finland’s producer price index increased 5.5% from a year ago in August versus the 5.7% growth recorded in July, data released by Statistics Finland showed.

The export price index rose 4.1% and the import price index edged higher 6.6% annually in August.

On a monthly basis, producer prices declined 0.1% in August.

Austrian PPI Slows

Austria''s producer price index increased 3.6% on an annual basis in July, slower than the 3.9% growth in June, data released by Statistics Austria showed on Monday.

On a monthly basis, producer prices remained flat in July, after dropping 0.1% in June.

Portuguese PPI Drops

Portugal''s producer price inflation increased 5.5% from a year ago in August, slower than the 5.7% growth in July, data released by Statistics Portugal showed. The latest data was the lowest since March, when the inflation rate was 7%.

On a monthly basis, producer prices were flat in August, after rising 0.2% in July.