Industrial output in the EU and euro area

This publication focuses on recent developments for the industrial production index, identifying how different activities developed leading up to, during, and following on from the recession. The industrial production index measures volume changes in output (in other words adjusted for price changes). The financial and economic crisis resulted in a sharp and severe downturn in industrial output in the European Union, mainly during 2008. In some countries the contraction in activity was the largest seen since the 1930s. During 2009 and 2010 there were clear signs of recovery in many parts of the economy.