Industrial production returned to growth in the European Union and the euro area in May, after two consecutive months of decline following the isolation measures imposed by Covid-19, but still declining compared to the same period last year, shows data released on Tuesday by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat).

According to data, industrial production increased by 12.4% in the euro area and by 11.4% in the European Union (EU 28), in May 2020 compared to April 2020, and among the Member States the most significant increases were were registered in Italy (42.1%), France (20%), Slovakia (19.6%), Hungary (15.6%) and Romania (15.1%), according to Agerpres.

In contrast, on an annual basis, in May 2020 compared to May 2019, industrial production decreased by 20.9% in the euro area and by 20.5% in the EU. The most important decreases were registered in Slovakia (minus 33.5%), Hungary (minus 27.6%) and Romania (minus 27.4%).

Data previously published by the National Institute of Statistics of Romania show that in May 2020, industrial production increased, as a gross series, compared to the previous month, by 22.2%, due to the results recorded in the manufacturing industry (+31.8%). As a series adjusted according to the number of working days and seasonality, industrial production was higher than the previous month by 15.1%, an increase supported by the manufacturing industry (+20.6%).