Increases the trade surplus of the Eurozone. According to Eurostat, in fact, in April the surplus in the trade of goods in the currency union was of 14,9 billion euros, against 3,3 billion in the same month last year, while in March the balance was positive for 22,5 billion. On the other hand, considering the Europe of 27 states, the April surplus stood at 9,2 billion against a deficit of 13,4 billion.
Looking at the first quarter of 2013, the deficit in energy trade decreased to 96,2 billion from 111,1 in the same period of 2012, while the surplus for manufactured goods grew to 91,1 billion. Imports from main partners are down, excluding Turkey (+3%). As regards exports, the greatest increase is that towards Switzerland, +19%, while those towards India collapse (+11%).
In the first quarter, the largest positive surplus among member states was recorded in Germany, at €49,3 billion. Followed by the Netherlands and Ireland, while Italy's result was positive by 2,7 billion, against a deficit of 4 billion in the same period of 2012. The heaviest deficit, however, is that recorded by the United Kingdom (-24,1 billion), followed by France at -20,1 billion.
Another survey published by Eurostat is that on hourly labor costs in the Eurozone, increased by 1,6% year-on-year in the first quarter, after growth of 1,3% in the fourth quarter of 2012. Looking at the Europe of 27 states, the increase amounted to 1,9% on an annual basis.
