Industrial sector grew by an annualized 9.2% in December 2005-February 2006

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reported last week that between December 2005 and February 2006 the industrial sector of the economy grew by an annualized 9.2%, after an increase of 7% in 2004 and 3.7% in 2005
 
The CBS also noted that high-tech manufacturers covering electronics, avionics and pharmaceuticals, registered an annualized increase of 7.7% in December-February, after rising 16.1% in the period September-November 2005.
 
Mixed high-tech industrial output covering, electrical equipment and machinery, chemicals and transport equipment was, according to the CBS, unchanged in December-February.
 
The CBS analysis also shows that mixed-low industrial output including metals, rubber goods and plastics, increased in December-February by an annualized 10.3%, and low technology industrial output covering food and beverages, textiles and clothing and leather made products increased by an annualized 5.1%.
 
In a separate report the CBS noted that in December-February an increase of 2.4% was registered in industrial jobs after a 3.6% increase in the three previous months.
 
In 2005 the number of industrial workers rose by 1.7%. The number of high-tech employees rose by an annualized 4.7% in December 2005 –February 2006.