According to the report from Eurostat, in March 2020, the COVID-19 containment measures widely introduced by Member States had a significant impact on industrial production, as the seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 11.3% in the euro area and by 10.4% in the EU, compared with February 2020. Economists had expected a 12.1% decrease in the euro area. In February 2020, industrial production fell by 0.1% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU.

In March 2020 compared with March 2019, industrial production decreased by 12.9% in the euro area and by 11.8% in the EU. Economists had expected a 12.4% decrease in the euro area.

In the euro area in March 2020, compared with February 2020, production of durable consumer goods fell by 26.3%, capital goods by 15.9%, intermediate goods by 11.0%, energy by 4.0% and non-durable consumer goods by 1.6%. In the EU, production of durable consumer goods fell by 23.8%, capital goods by 15.1%, intermediate goods by 9.9%, energy by 3.5% and non durable consumer goods by 1.2%.

In the euro area in March 2020, compared with March 2019, production of durable consumer goods fell by 24.2%, capital goods by 21.5%, intermediate goods by 11.8%, energy by 6.7% and non-durable consumer goods by 0.8%. In the EU, production of durable consumer goods fell by 21.7%, capital goods by 20.0%, intermediate goods by 10.1%, energy by 6.4% and non-durable consumer goods by 0.3%.