Industrial production up slightly in Europe

Eurozone industrial production rose 0.4 percent March to April, the European Union's statistical office Eurostat reported Tuesday. In the larger European Union, production rose 0.3 percent, the data branch of the European Commission said. Compared to April 2012, industrial production declined 0.6 percent in the 17-member currency region and 0.8 percent in the European Union. Since March, energy production has dropped 1.5 percent in both the eurozone and the European Union. Manufacturing of durable goods fell 2.7 percent and 1.4 percent in the eurozone and the EU, respectively. Non-durable goods production rose, however, climbing 0.7 percent in both regions. Industrial production rose in 10 nations and fell in 11 with 21 of 27 nations included in the report. The largest gains were in Ireland, France and Romania while the sharpest declines were in Finland, Netherlands and Portugal.