Eurozone production up

Industrial production in the eurozone last December rose by 0.5 per cent over the previous month, Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Communities, said.

Production had fallen by 0.4 per cent in November and by 0.6 per cent in October.

Output in the EU25 increased by 0.2 per cent in December last year, after falls of 0.2 per cent in November and 0.4 per cent in October.

In December 2004 compared to December 2003, industrial production rose by one per cent in the eurozone and by 0.8 per cent in the EU25.

The average production index for the year 2004 compared to that for 2003 increased by 1.9 per cent in the eurozone and by 2.1 per cent in the EU25.