The industrial recovery is strongest in Germany (year-on-year growth of 6.8% in February) and in the economies having strong bonds with Germany. This is the case of the Czech Republic with February growth of 7%. The highest growth could be seen in Slovakia (20.6%). Industries in Poland, Hungary, and the Netherlands posted strong growth, as well (10.1%, 8.4% and 7.2% respectively). Only smaller states (including Luxembourg and Ireland) reported faster growth out of the EU27, but their economies strongly rely on services and their industrial output is not very extensive.
The other large EU economies showed rather moderate growth in industrial production, with France rising 3.2%, Italy 2.7%, and the United Kingdom 1%. Contrary to this, Spain (-1.9%) and northern Europe ended up in the red. The economic crisis is further deepening in Greece (down 10.4% in February), drawing down its neighbouring Bulgaria (down 9.8