EU's industrial production down in August

Industrial production in the EU fell 2% in August on an annual basis, the bloc's statistical office announced on Monday.

Eurostat said the calendar-adjusted industrial production index fell to 91.2 in August 2019, versus 88.1 in the same month last year.

"In the EU28, production of non-durable consumer goods fell 0.4%, intermediate goods 2.3%, capital goods 2.6% and energy 3.0%," it noted.

Meanwhile production of durable consumer goods rose 0.8% year-on-year in August, the office noted.

Among member states, Slovakia recorded the highest fall with 8.1% over the same period, followed by Ireland (6.2%) and Romania (6.1%), Eurostat said.

Official figures also indicated that the highest rises were seen in Malta (7.4%), Denmark (6.6%) and Finland (4.5%).

The index also dropped in the eurozone 2.8% in August on a yearly basis.

Almost all sub indices posted declined in the month, while the only production of durable consumer goods rose 0.4% in EA19.

The eurozone/euro area or EA19 represents member states that use the single currency -- euro -- while the EU28 includes all member countries of the bloc.