Euro zone industrial new orders fell less than expected month-on-month in January, data showed today.
European Union statistics office Eurostat said industrial new orders in the 13 countries using the euro eased 0.2 per cent in January against December for a 12 per cent year-on-year gain. Economists had expected a 1 per cent monthly fall and a 10.1 per cent annual increase.
Excluding volatile orders for ships, trains and planes, orders stayed unchanged in January against December and rose 9.8 per cent year-on-year, Eurostat said.
Separately, Eurostat said the seasonally unadjusted external trade balance of the euro zone swung to a deficit of €7.8 billion in the first month of 2007 from an upwardly revised surplus of €3.2 billion in December.
Economists had expected a surplus in January of €1.2 billion. Seasonally adjusted, the trade balance came to a €1.3 billion surplus, down from €2 billion in December, as exports eased 0.4 per cent month-on-month and imports increased 0.2 per cent.