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In April 2012, compared with March 2012, the industrial producer price index remained stable in both the euro area (EA17) and the EU27. In March prices increased by 0.5% in both zones. In April 2012 compared with April 2011, industrial producer prices gained 2.6% in the euro area and 2.8% in the EU27.

The euro area (EA17) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.0% in April 2012, stable compared with March. It was 9.9% in April 2011. The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.3% in April 2012, compared with 10.2% in March. It was 9.5% in April 2011.

Following a sharp fall in 2009, EU27 trade in goods with Russia grew strongly in 2010 and 2011 to reach record levels. EU27 exports to Russia fell from 105 billion euro in 2008 to 66 bn in 2009, then rose to 86 bn in 2010 and 108 bn in 2011.

comScore, Inc. released an analysis of the Online Tax Preparation segment for the tax season ending April 18, 2012, which showed that the volume of tax returns or units filed online grew 11 percent from the previous year. Among online do-it-yourself (DIY) tax preparation providers, comScore data showed that Intuit continued to lead the market with nearly 60 percent of all tax units filed online through the end of the tax season. The three largest DIY online tax preparation providers (Intuit, TaxACT and H&R Block) accounted for more than 92 percent of DIY tax units filed online for the season.

The EU has strategic partnerships with all the BRIC countries: Brazil, Russia, India and China. Even though the BRIC countries have certain aspects in common, such as large populations, large land coverage and rapid economic growth, there are equally large economic and social differences between them. In order to compare the four BRIC countries and the EU, Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, releases a publication "The European Union and the BRIC countries". This publication contains data on demography, economy, health, education, labour market, trade in goods, agriculture, energy and environment, transport and communication as well as science and technology.

Online advertised vacancies dipped 45,700 in May to 4,714,800, according to The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine® (HWOL) Data Series. The Supply/Demand rate stands at 2.6 unemployed for every vacancy. In May the number of unemployed was 7.7 million above the number of advertised vacancies - compared to 10 million above in the fall of 2011.

In the EU27, household electricity prices rose by 6.3% between the second half of 2010 and the second half of 2011, after an increase of 5.6% between the second half of 2009 and 2010. Household gas prices increased by 12.6% in the EU27 between the second half of 2010 and 2011, after a rise of 7.5% between the second half of 2009 and 2010.

Nearly one-third (31.4 percent) of U.S. homeowners with mortgages – or 15.7 million – were underwater on their mortgage in the first quarter of 2012, despite rising home values, according to the first quarter Zillow® Negative Equity Report. Collectively, underwater homeowners owed $1.2 trillion more than their homes were worth. Negative equity rose slightly from 31.1 percent in the fourth quarter, and declined from 32.4 percent one year ago.

Women now account for 21.7% of directors serving on the Boards of the largest banks in Europe, a region whose companies are remaking corporate leadership in the midst of the worst debt crisis in decades and a global recession, according to the latest Corporate Women Directors International study about the power behind the world's largest banks and financial services companies.

The average standard VAT rate in the EU27 has risen strongly since 2008. In 2012, the standard VAT rate varies from 15.0% in Luxembourg and 17.0% in Cyprus to 27.0% in Hungary and 25.0% in Denmark and Sweden.