Wednesday, May 14, 2008

EU energy output up 4.4% in March

What on earth?
From Point Carbon:

Energy production was 4.4 per cent higher in March across all 27 EU member states compared to the same month a year earlier, according to estimated indices from Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office.

The March figures show a continuing acceleration in EU energy production since the start of the year.

The year-on-year rise in energy production was 3.3 per cent in February and 2.3 per cent in January compared to the corresponding months in 2007.

But the estimates show a slowdown in the growth of total industrial production across the EU in March.

Total industrial output in the EU27, excluding the construction sector, increased by 1.8 per cent in March compared to March 2007.

The year-on-year rise in industrial output was 3.5 per cent in February and 3.3 per cent in January compared to the corresponding months in 2007.

London

Am I reading this right?
EU energy production (and thus, I assume, consumption) is going up not just YearOverYear but sequentially?
And industrial output growth is going down?
Are they using more energy and becoming less efficient?
Huh?