2004- Industrial output rose 6.6%

The Central Bureau of Statistics(CBS ) reported last week several positive macroeconomic figures. According to the CBS in 2004 Industrial output rose by 6.6% and industrial exports rose by 19.1%.
 
According to the CBS last year was also a good year for the high- tech sector: exports rose by 23%, output rose by 14.6%, and employment grew by 4.5%. The CBS noted, however, that trend figures indicate that industrial output has been slowing throughout the year.
 
Growth in industrial output slowed from an annualized 9.5% in the first quarter of 2004, to 8% in the second quarter, 6.2% in the third, and 3% in the fourth.