March 23, 2007	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 3, 1428

BRUSSELS, March 22: Eurozone factories saw new orders ease in January, although they surged over one year, the European Union's Eurostat data agency said on Thursday. New industrial orders in the 13 countries sharing the euro slipped 0.2 per cent over one month but jumped 12 per cent over one year, Eurostat said.

Despite the slight fall, the result was better than expectations from private economists for a slump of 1.0 per cent over one month.

However, it marked a slowdown from December when new orders rose 1.8 per cent over one month and 1.9 per cent over one year to a 10-year high.

Eurostat revised the December figures sharply lower from a previous estimate of a 2.8 per cent jump over one month and a 1.6 per cent increase over one year.

In the broader European Union, new industrial orders fell 1.6 per cent over one month in January but rose 10.1 per cent over one year.—AFP