XN000022-1985-08-20 — Page 7

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1985

JUNE ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL FIGURES OUT

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THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND (IN TERMS OF MONTHS) IN THE 200 LARGEST FIRMS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN JUNE 1985 REMAINED STABLE COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH, ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY RELEASED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

ANALYSED BY MAJOR INDUSTRIES, THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY RECORDED A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS, WHEREAS THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS, WEARING APPAREL AND PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES SHOWED SOME DECLINES. THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY REPORTED NO CHANGE.

EMPLOYMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR INCREASED, LARGELY DUE TO THE RECRUITMENT OF SUMMER WORKERS IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES.

BOTH PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR DECREASED BECAUSE LESS OVERTIME WORK WAS CARRIED OUT.

EMPLOYMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR DECLINED SLIGHTLY WHILE THAT IN THE SERVICES SECTORS REMAINED UNCHANGED.

INCREASES IN BOTH PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS WERE REPORTED BY RESPONDENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR BECAUSE OF THE PAYMENT OF BONUSES BY A FEW FIRMS. ON THE OTHER HAND, PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS REMAINED UNCHANGED IN THE SERVICES SECTORS.

THE PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS ARE SHOWN IN THE TABLES BELOW.

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, 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 QUICK ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ECONOMY IN THE SHORT TERM.

THE SURVEY REPORT FOR JUNE 1985 IS NOW 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 3-7212854.

A. ORDERS-ON-HAND IN