A sample survey among manufacturing enterprises showed a decrease in sales and employment. Investment increased in 2007, but decreased during 2008.

Sales

When compared to the previous year, sales by the sampled manufacturing enterprises registered declines of €49.2 million or 2.0 per cent in 2007, and of €178.9 million or 7.5 per cent in 2008.

In 2007 lower sales were registered in the Radio, TV and Communication equipment sector which declined by €76.1 million. At the same time, the Food and Beverages; Tobacco declined by €57.3 million (due to the Tobacco industry), while the Wearing apparel and clothes declined by €14.2 million. During the same period increases in sales were registered in the Chemicals and chemical products of €51.7 million, in the Electrical machinery and apparatus of €28.5 million, and in the Publishing and printing sector of €18.0 million.

The Radio, TV and Communication equipment sector registered a further decline of €197.1 million in 2008. Other relevant decreases in 2008 were registered in the Furniture and Manufacturing n.e.c. which declined by €16.6 million, and in the Electrical machinery and apparatus which declined by €10.1 million. For the same period, the Food and Beverages; Tobacco sector recorded an increase in sales of €25.0 million. Other increases in sales were registered in the Other non-metallic mineral products sector of €13.3 million, in the Publishing and printing and in the Fabricated metal products sectors of €7.6 million and €7.4 million respectively.

Employment, Wages and Salaries

Year on year average employment in the sampled manufacturing enterprises declined by 418 employees or 2.3 per cent in 2007 and by 613 employees or 3.4 per cent in 2008.

During the course of the 3 years under review the main average net decreases in employment were recorded in the Wearing apparel and clothes, in the Radio, TV and Communication equipment and in the Furniture and Manufacturing n.e.c. sectors. On the other hand, the Chemicals and chemical products and the Other transport equipment sectors registered net increases in their employment levels.

Between 2006 and 2007, wages and salaries increased by 2.2 per cent to €285.8 million, and decreased by 0.6 per cent to €284.0 million in 2008.

Average Earnings and Turnover per capita

In 2007, average earnings per capita in the sampled manufacturing enterprises increased by 4.5 per cent and amounted to €15,816. In 2008, average earnings increased by 2.9 per cent to €16,269. In 2007, the average turnover per capita in the sampled manufacturing enterprises increased to €132,088 from €131,767 one year earlier. During 2008, average per capita turnover decreased by 4.2 per cent, and amounted to €126,476.

Investment

Overall investment increased by 26.6 per cent in 2007 from €139.5 million in 2006, to €176.6 million one year later. In 2008, investment declined to €149.4 million

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