In the first quarter this year, provisional data indicate that industrial turnover and manufacturing new orders rose by 4.0 and 20.3 per cent respectively over the corresponding quarter of 2010.
Total industrial turnover went up by 4.0 per cent to 110.4 points in the first quarter of 2011, primarily as a result of an 18.7 per cent increase in intermediate goods. Furthermore, turnover for consumer goods increased by 5.6 per cent on account of a rise of 6.5 per cent in non-durable consumer goods, while durable consumer goods fell by 10.9 per cent. Additionally, capital goods rose by 17.1 per cent. Partially offsetting the upward trend in total industrial turnover was a drop of 15.6 per cent in turnover for energy.
By market, domestic industrial turnover decreased by 9.8 per cent, mainly on account of the decline in energy. This drop was partially mitigated by a rise in consumer and capital goods of 1.7 and 33.4 per cent respectively. On the other hand, non-domestic industrial turnover rose by 18.8 per cent, mainly on account of a 24.1 per cent increase for intermediate goods. Capital and consumer goods recorded increases of 14.8 and 10.0 per cent respectively.
Manufacturing new orders In the first quarter this year, new orders for manufacturing industries advanced by 20.3 per cent over the corresponding quarter of 2010. This was attributable to an increase of 22.4 per cent in respect of new orders for intermediate goods. Similarly, new orders for capital goods rose by 18.6 per cent, while new orders for consumer goods added 12.9 per cent on account of a 13.2 per cent rise in new orders for non-durable consumer goods.
By market, domestic manufacturing new orders went up by 1.8 per cent, mainly on account of a 5.2 and 17.4 per cent increase in consumer and capital goods respectively, while intermediate goods fell by 3.9 per cent. On the other hand, non-domestic new orders advanced by 22.4 per cent, primarily as a result of a 24.7 per cent rise in new orders for intermediate goods.
Industrial employment in the first quarter this year edged up by 0.7 per cent when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2010. This was due to an increase in employment for intermediate and capital goods of 2.9 and 2.1 per cent respectively.
The quarterly gross wages and salaries index for the quarter under review increased by 3.5 per cent to stand at 92.0 points. This was reflected in a rise in gross wages and salaries for intermediate, energy and capital goods of 7.9, 9.4 and 4.0 per cent respectively. On the other hand, gross wages and salaries in the consumer goods sector went down by 4.0 per cent, where both the durable and non-durable consumer goods sectors declined by 7.3 and 3.7 per cent respectively.
Furthermore, during the period under review, hours worked in the industrial sector increased by 0.6 per cent, reflected in a rise in hours worked in the intermediate, energy and capital goods sectors by 6.5, 1.7 and 0.7 per cent respectively. On the other hand, hours worked in the consumer goods sector fell by 5.8 per cent, attributed to a decline of 8.2 and 5.5 per cent in the durable and the non- durable goods sectors respectively.