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In the third quarter of 2012 compared with the second quarter of 2012, the household saving rate remained almost stable in both the euro area (EA17) and the EU27. The household investment rate was unchanged in the euro area and remained almost stable in the EU27. In the euro area, household income per capita fell by 0.3% in real terms, after a decrease of 0.5% in the previous quarter.

In the third quarter of 2012, compared with the second quarter of 2012, the business investment rate decreased in both the euro area (EA17) and the EU27. In the euro area, the business profit share remained almost stable, as wage costs increased at nearly the same rate as value added.

EU27 international trade in goods with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States1 (CELAC) has been characterised in recent years by steady growth between 2003 and 2008, a sharp decline in 2009 and a strong recovery since then. EU27 exports to CELAC rose from 66 billion euro in 2009 to 90 bn in 2010 and 101 bn in 2011. Imports increased from 75 bn in 2009 to 96 bn in 2010 and 113 bn in 2011. Between 2003 and 2011, the EU27 has always recorded a trade deficit with CELAC, amounting to 12 bn in 2011.

The EU27 external current account recorded a surplus of 28.8 billion euro in the third quarter of 2012, compared with a deficit of 6.8 bn in the third quarter of 2011, according to a second estimate released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

At the end of the third quarter of 2012, the government debt to GDP ratio in the euro area (EA17) stood at 90.0%, compared with 89.9% at the end of the second quarter of 2012. In the EU27 the ratio was 85.1%,compared with 85.0%. Compared with the third quarter of 2011, the government debt to GDP ratio rose in both the euro area (from 86.8% to 90.0%) and the EU27 (from 81.5% to 85.1%). These data are released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

At the end of 2011, the EU27 held Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stocks of 4 983 billion euro in the rest of the world, while stocks held by the rest of the world in the EU27 amounted to 3 807 bn, meaning that the EU27 is a net investor in the rest of the world. Both stocks held by the EU27 and those held by the rest of the world have risen steadily between 2008 and 2011, increasing by about 50%, while EU27 stocks held in another Member State have risen by around 20% during the same period. It should be noted however that stocks held in the rest of the world represent about 40% of total EU27 FDI stocks, with 60% held in another EU Member State.

Both EU27 exports and imports to Brazil increased steadily between 2003 and 2008, fell in 2009, and then recovered to reach peak levels in 2011. EU27 exports to Brazil amounted to 35.7 billion euro and imports to 38.9 bn in 2011. The EU27 registered a continuous deficit in trade in goods with Brazil up to 2011, reaching a peak of 11.5 bn in 2007, then falling progressively to 3.2 bn in 2011.

In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production fell by 0.4% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.9% in the EU27 in November 2012, compared with the previous month, according to first estimates released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In October 2012, production remained stable in the euro area and increased by 2.8% in the EU27. Compared with November 2011, production in November 2012 dropped by 4.7% in the euro area and by 5.9% in the EU27.

Euro area annual inflation was 2.2% in December 2012, the same as in November. A year earlier the rate was 2.7%. Monthly inflation was 0.4% in December 2012. EU annual inflation was 2.3% in December 2012, down from 2.4% in November. A year earlier the rate was 3.0%.Monthly inflation was 0.3% in December 2012.

The first estimate for the euro area (EA17) trade in goods balance with the rest of the world in November 2012 gave a 13.7 bn euro surplus, compared with +4.9 bn in November 2011. The October 2012 balance was +9.3 bn, compared with -0.7 bn in October 2011. In November 2012 compared with October 2012, seasonally adjusted exports increased by 0.8% while imports fell by 1.5%. These data are released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.