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not available for all the categories. Caution should be exercised in interpreting
the changes in values shown in Table 3, as
increases in the prices of imported capital
goods have been fairly rapid in recent years.
7.
(c) Retained imports of industrial
machinery for use in the
manufacturing sector
Retained imports of industrial
machinery for manufacturing use grew by 18%
in the third quarter, following increases of
18% in the first quarter and 4% in the second
quarter. Taking the first three quarters of
1988 together, these retained imports grew by
13%. The corresponding growth rate for 1987
as a whole was 18% (Table 2).
Notwithstanding a less rapid growth in domestic exports and a firming up of local
interest rates, the investment intentions of
manufacturers have apparently remained
generally strong. The tight labour market
conditions have almost certainly contributed
to this. An exception is the textiles
industry, in which investment in textile
mechinery showed a substantial decline
(Table 3).
(d)
Retained imports of capital
goods other than for
manufacturing use
G.F. 326
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