XN000022-1988-05-12 — Page 8

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1988

QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED

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MOST FIRMS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR REPORTED THAT EXPERIENCED A MILD DECLINE IN BUSINESS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF WHEN COMPARED WITH THE FOURTH QUARTER OF

1988 1987, ACCORDING TO RESULTS

SURVEY RELEASED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

HOWEVER, MOST OF THESE FIRMS EXPECT THEIR BUSINESS TO IMPROVE IN THE SECOND QUARTER OVER THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1988.

THESE COMPARISONS ARE, HOWEVER, AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS. THE FIRST QUARTER IN EACH YEAR 1S USUALLY A SEASONAL LOW PERIOD AS FAR AS MANUFACTURING BUSINESS IS CONCERNED.

WITHIN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, EXPERIENCES OF FIRMS INDIVIDUAL INDUSTRIES VARIED IN THE FIRST QUARTER.

IN

FIRMS IN THE "WATCHES AND CLOCKS" "ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES" AND "ELECTRONICS" INDUSTRIES

INDUSTRIES EXPERIENCED AN IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1988 OVER THE QUARTER

FOURTH OF 1987, WHILE FIRMS IN "WEARING APPAREL" "TEXTILES" "PLASTICS" AND "FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS" INDUSTRIES EXPERIENCED SOME DECLINE IN BUSINESS.

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AS REGARDS EXPECTATION FOR THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE SECOND QUARTER, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE

"FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO" INDUSTRY IN WHICH RESPONDING FIRMS EXPECT A MILD DETERIORATION IN BUSINESS, FIRMS ACROSS ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE "PLASTICS", "FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS" "ELECTRONICS" AND "WATCHES AND CLOCKS" INDUSTRIES, GENERALLY EXPECT

THEIR BUSINESS TO IMPROVE OVER THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1988.

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FIRMS IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR EXPERIENCED A CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1988 AND THE BUSINESS SITUATION IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN FAVOURABLE IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

AS FOR THE "WHOLESALE,

RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS" SECTOR,

RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, BUSINESS EXPERIENCES VARIED AMONG FIRMS IN DIFFERENT TRADES IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1988, DUE MAINLY TO SEASONAL FACTORS.

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WHILE FIRMS IN THE 'WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS" SECTOR EXPERIENCED A MILD IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS, THE HOTELS BUSINESS EXPERIENCED A SEASONAL DECLINE IN BUSINESS IN THE FIRST QUARTER.

REGARDING BUSINESS PROSPECTS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER, BOTH THE "WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES" FIRMS AND BUSINESS EXPECT TO ACHIEVE AN IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR CONTRAST TO THE "RESTAURANTS" BUSINESS WHICH REDUCTION IN BUSINESS IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

THE "HOTELS" BUSINESS, IN ANTICIPATES A SEASONAL

/IN THE

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