5.
QUARTERLY INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
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THE INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF LAST YEAR, AT 144.5, WAS 22 POINTS OR 18.0 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1983, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER, THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF 10.7 PER CENT, THE THIRD QUARTER IS NORMALLY THE PEAK SEASON FOR MANUFACTURING PRODUCTION, TO MEET THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR DEMAND.
INDUSTRIES WITH SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN PRODUCTION OVER THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1983 INCLUDED TOBACCO (+37.8 PER CENT); PAPER AND PAPER PRODUCTS (+41.8 PER CENT) PLASTIC PRODUCTS (+57.0 PER CENT); FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS (+59.2 PER CENT); CONSUMER ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS (+33.7 PER CENT); AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT (+58.5 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, SEVERAL INDUSTRIES REPORTED SIGNIFICANT DECLINES IN PRODUCTION OVER THE SAME PERIOD. THESE INCLUDED NON-METALLIC MINERAL PRODUCTS (-13.6 PER CENT) BASIC METALS (-18.2 PER CENT); NON-ELECTRICAL MACHINERY (-16.0 PER CENT) PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT, PHOTOGRAPHIC AND OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS (-17,1 PER CENT) AND LEATHER PRODUCTS AND FOOTWEAR (-12.5 PER CENT).
COMPARING THE THIRD QUARTER WITH THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1984, THERE WERE CONSIDERABLE INCREASES IN THE PRODUCTION OF CHEMICALS AND CHEMICAL PRODUCTS (+27.2 PER CENT), PLASTIC PRODUCTS (+33.9 PER CENT), AND CONSUMER ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS (+22.6 PER CENT). THIS WAS PARTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIGHER SEASONAL DEMAND FOR SUCH PRODUCTS AS CANDLES, PLASTIC TOYS, PLASTIC FLOWERS AND DECORATIVE ARTICLES FOR CHRISTMAS, ELECTRONIC TOYS, AND OTHER CONSUMER ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS.
TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY ALSO REGISTERED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN PRODUCTION OVER THE PRECEDING QUARTER (+31.2 PER CENT).
(TWO TABLES ON THE QUARTERLY INDEXES OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1984 WILL BE SENT BY FACSIMILE NETWORK. ONE IS A SUMMARY TABLE FOR BROAD INDUSTRY GROUPS: THE OTHER GIVES MORE DETAILED INDUSTRY BREAKDOWNS.)
MORE DETAILED INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE +REPORT ON THE QUARTERLY INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, 3RD QUARTER 1984+.
THE PUBLICATION WILL BE ON SALE SHORTLY AT $2 A COPY FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE AT G/F, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, OR AT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT PUBLICATION SALES COUNTER, KAI TAK COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 317 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL. REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION MAY ALSO BE ARRANGED.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH SECTION OF CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AT TELEPHONE NUMBER 3-7224504.
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