Provisional seasonally adjusted turnover in the fourth quarter last year increased by 1.2 per cent over the previous three months. Over the corresponding period in 2012, working-day adjusted industrial turnover decreased by 8.3 per cent, the National Statistics Office said today.

Seasonally adjusted industrial turnover for the fourth quarter went up by 1.2 per cent to 101.4 points when compared to the third quarter. This was primarily the result of an increase of 10.3 and 2.1 per cent in capital goods and energy respectively. On the other hand, industrial turnover in respect of intermediate goods decreased by 2.8 per cent.

Seasonally adjusted employment during the quarter declined by 1.1 per cent from 97.4 points to 96.3 points. Drops in employment were registered in all main industrial groupings.

Furthermore, seasonally adjusted wages and salaries decreased by 2.6 per cent, from 109.7 points in the third quarter of 2013 to 106.8 points in the subsequent period. During the period under review, hours worked adjusted for seasonal effects decreased by 1.0 per cent.

When compared to the fourth quarter of 2012, working-day adjusted turnover decreased by 8.3 per cent. This was mainly attributed to a drop of 22.8 per cent in intermediate goods. The decline was partially mitigated by an increase in industrial turnover in capital goods and energy, by 22.1 and 2.4 per cent respectively.

Year-on-year data for employment declined by 2.1 per cent, on account of a decrease in all the main industrial groupings.

Meanwhile, industrial wages and salaries adjusted for calendar effects edged up by 0.8 per cent, while hours worked decreased by 1.8 per cent.

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