14

27.

Unfortunately

we do not have a reliable

measure of private plant and machinery investment in

the first half of this year, but the figures for

imports of capital

retained

indirect indicator.

goods do provide an

Overall retained imports of

capital goods fell in the first half of this year. A

more detailed look at the figures, however, shows

that, although retained imports of non-industrial

machinery have fallen, retained imports of industrial

machinery, the sort of machinery that manufacturers

buy, have

have increased sharply (2), consistent with the

increase in domestic exports.

(2)

Retained imports of capital goods in the first half of 1986 :

Value ($mn)

Increase (%)

Industrial machinery

2,695.4

41.4

Transport equipment Construction equipment Other capital goods

1,097.1

-4.6

195.3

30.3

6,332.8

10.4

Total

10,320.5

15.4

(-5% in real terms)

/28. Investment

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