Index of industrial production, August 2002

According to seasonally adjusted figures production of consumer goods had a 1.3 per cent decrease from July to August, mainly caused by a strong decrease in the manufacture of food and beverages. During the first eight months total production of consumer goods has experienced a slight decrease compared with the same period last year, according to weekly adjusted figures.

Decreased production for intermediate and capital goods

The production of intermediate goods (pulp, paper and paper products, chemicals and chemical products, basic metals and metal products) experienced an increase of 0.5 per cent from July to August, following the strong decrease in July. The strongest contribution comes from the manufacture of rubber and plastic products and pulp, paper and paper products. Despite the increase in August the production of intermediate goods declined during the first eight months compared with the same period last year.

Manufacturing of capital goods (fabricated metals, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, oil-platforms a.o.) had a 1.8 per cent decrease in production from July to August, according to seasonally adjusted figures, mainly caused by a significant drop in the manufacture of machinery and electrical and optical equipment, while production of oil platforms had an increase. The manufacturing output for capital goods has had an increase of 1.8 per cent during the first eight months compared with the same months last year, according to weekly adjusted figures.