7
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
HOWEVER, THE INDEX OF PRODUCTION IN THE BASIC METALS INDUSTRY DROPPED BY 32.0 PER CENT OVER THE SAME PERIOD, AS THE LOCAL
PRODUCTION OF IRON AND STEEL BARS AND RODS EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN THE FACE OF LARGE INCREASES IN IMPORTS OF SUCH COMMODITIES.
COMPARED WITH THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1986, INDUSTRIES WITH
INCREASES IN PRODUCTION INCLUDED BEVERAGES (+33.7 PER CENT) }
TOBACCO (+29.0 PER CENT), CHEMICALS AND CHEMICAL PRODUCTS (+24.6 PER CENT) AND RUBBER PRODUCTS (+21.3 PER CENT). THE INCREASE IN THE PRODUCTION OF BEVERAGES WAS MAINLY A SEASONAL PHENOMENON, WHILE THAT OF TOBACCO WAS MOSTLY FOR MEETING AN INCREASE IN DEMAND FROM CHINA.
INDUSTRIES HAVING RECORDED A DECLINE IN PRODUCTION COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER WERE BASIC METALS (-28.4 PER CENT), TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT (-24.3 PER CENT) AND PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT, PHOTOGRAPHIC AND OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS (-7.6 PER CENT).
IN RELEASING THESE FIGURES, A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IS PRIMARILY INTENDED TO REFLECT THE LEVELS AND TRENDS OF OUTPUT IN REAL TERMS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE VOLUME OF PRODUCTION IS MEASURED AFTER REMOVING THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES.
TWO TABLES ON THE QUARTERLY INDICES OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1986 HAVE BEEN SENT BY FACSIMILE NETWORK AND ALSO BOXED FOR COLLECTION. ONE IS A SUMMARY TABLE FOR BROAD INDUSTRY GROUPS, WHILE 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 1986+ WHICH IS ON SALE AT $3 PER COPY.
IT CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE AT THE 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 WITH THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT ON 5-8234832.
/Table 1