Industrial output 8.1% up in August-October

The Central Bureau of Statistics ( CBS ) reported last week that Industrial output was accelerating, exceeding all previous forecasts. According to the CBS Industrial output rose during August-October 2004 by an annualized 8.1%.
 
Industrial output rose by 7.9% in May-July and by 9.1% in February-April.
 
The Manufacturing Production Index is, according to the CBS expected to be 6.5-7% higher in 2004 than in 2003. Central Bureau of Statistics figures also indicated a further rise in industrial employment. The number of industrial employees rose by an annualized 2.1% in August-October. In May-July the number of industrial employees rose by 3.9% and 3.5% in February-April.
 
The figures also indicated that activity by leading high-tech sectors : pharmaceuticals, electronics and avionics rose in August-October by an annualized 19.3%. In May-July industrial activity rose by 22.3% and 22.8% in February-April.
 
The number of employees in these sectors rose in August-October by an annualized 6%, 9.3% in May-July and 7.6% in February-April.
 
Activity lower high-tech sector : chemistry. Engineering. Electrical industries rose in August-October by an annualized 7.5%. In May-July industrial activity rose by 4.5% but was 1.9% down in February-April. The number of employees in these sectors rose in August-October by an annualized 0.9%, 1.8% in May-July and 0.9% in February-April.