XN000022-1985-01-20 — Page 5

SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 1985

PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN THE SERVICES SECTORS ALSO DECLINED, FOLLOWING THE PAYMENTS OF BONUSES AND GRATUITIES IN OCTOBER BY SOME FIRMS,

THE SURVEY COVERED A PANEL OF THE 200 LARGEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES AND THE 50 LARGEST COMPANIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND SELECTED SERVICES SECTORS CHOSEN BY REFERENCE TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT IN MARCH 1983.

AS THE SAMPLE WAS NOT DRAWN ON A RANDOM BASIS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT CAUTIONED THAT RESULTS ON MAGNITUDE OF CHANGE MIGHT NOT REFLECT THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE, ALTHOUGH THEY SHOULD GIVE A USEFUL INDICATION OF THE DIRECTION OF CHANGE FOR A WICK ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ECONOMY IN THE SHORT TERM.

THE SURVEY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 1984 WILL SOON BE ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, AND THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER, KAI TAK COMMERCIAL BUILDING, AT $1.50 PER COPY.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE TO THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT AT 3-7212768.

ORDERS-ON-HAND IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

(% CHANGE OVER THE PRECEDING MONTH)

SEPT

1984

ORDERS-ON-HAND

(IN TERMS OF MONTHS) FOR

OCT

NOV

1984

1984

NOV 1984

INDUSTRY

WEARING APPAREL

EXCEPT FOOTWEAR

TEXTILES, EXCEPT

WEARING APPAREL

PLASTIC PRODUCTS

FABRICATED METAL

PRODUCTS

7 7 7 7

-2

-1

-1

4.74

-1

1

-2

2.26

--2

-5

*

4.08

-8

1

3.27

ELECTRICAL AND

2

-2

2

5.56

ELECTRON IC

PRODUCTS

OTHERS

ALL ABOVE INDUSTRIES

1

-1

-1

-1

4.32

1 *

-2

* !

4.53

/B. EMPLOYMENT