XN000022-1986-06-20 — Page 18

FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1986

17

THERE WAS A GENERAL INCREASE IN PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AS MANY MANUFACTURERS ADJUSTED THEIR WORKERS' SALARIES IN APRIL. HOWEVER, THE TEXTILES AND PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES REPORTED DECREASES IN BOTH PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS BECAUSE OF LESS OVERTIME WORK PERFORMED.

THE NUMBER OF OPERATIVES ENGAGED IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR INCREASED AS SOME NEW PROJECTS STARTED, WHILE A STABLE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION WAS REPORTED BY THE SERVICES SECTORS. INCREASES IN BOTH PAYROLL AND PER CAPLTA EARNINGS WERE REPORTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION AND MOST SERVICES SECTORS. THE HOTEL SECTOR RECORDED THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INCREASE AS SOME HOTELS ISSUED SPECIAL BONUSES.

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 RANUFACTURING 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 THE 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 APRIL 1986 IS ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING AND AT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER, KAI TAK COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 317 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, 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 MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

(% CHANGE OVER THE

PRECEDING MONTH)

FEB.

MAR. APR.

1986

1986

1986

ORDERS-ON-HAND

(IN TERMS OF MONTHS) FOR APRIL 1996

INDUSTRY

WEARING APPAREL,

EXCEPT FOOTWEAR

1

3

3

/TEXTILES,

4.74