The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and Japan enters into force on 1 February 2019. Businesses and consumers across Europe and in Japan can now take advantage of the largest open trade zone in the world.
Comité Européen de l‘Outillage Here, you find current public information on the European tool sector. You can also visit the sub-categories of the Public Area via the menu above. To read about the latest legislative changes that are relevant for the hand tool sector – like the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), obligatory origin marking according to the European Consumer Product Safety Regulation (CPSR) – or have access to information on European Tool Association CEO activities, please visit the Members Area.
The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and Japan enters into force on 1 February 2019. Businesses and consumers across Europe and in Japan can now take advantage of the largest open trade zone in the world.
After two months with significant declines, DIY stores in France have started the year 2019 with an increase in sales.
An increasing consolidation of locations among the German operators of DIY stores in Europe can be determined for the years between 1999 and 2017.
The British Wickes chain had a sales decline of 2.5 per cent to record in 2018.
The Spanish chain of DIY stores Bricoking has filed for bankruptcy. There will be a second attempt to auction the seven stores which the company operates itself.
Global DIY market leader Home Depot has closed financial year 2018/2019 (ending 3 February 2019) with sales of USD 108.203 bn and thus with a plus of 7.2 per cent.
The European economy is expected to grow for the seventh year in a row in 2019, with expansion forecast in every Member State.
Seasonally adjusted GDP rose by 0.2% in both the euro area (EA19) and the EU28 during the fourth quarter of 2018, compared with the previous quarter.
The euro area annual inflation rate was 1.4% in January 2019, down from 1.5% in December. A year earlier, the rate was 1.3%.
In December 2018 compared with November 2018, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector decreased by 0.4% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.9% in the EU28.
