Manufacturing output up in February

12/04/2006 14:22

After adjustment for working day patterns, the Dutch manufacturing production in February 2006 was 0.6 percent up on February 2005. A slight dip in January preceded this modest increase.

The output in the food, beverages and tobacco industry increased by 3.7 percent. The textile industry also performed well. Compared to February 2005 production was up by 2.4 percent. In the chemical industry, the metal industry, and the wood and building materials industry, the output was virtually the same as a year before. In paper and publishing the manufacturing production was down on February 2005 by 0.7 percent.

It is best to use the seasonally adjusted figures to determine short-term developments in production. Since the monthly seasonally adjusted figures show a somewhat erratic course, it is better to compare the average over two months to the average over the preceding two months.

After adjustment for seasonal effects and working day patterns, manufacturing output rose by 0.4 percent in the period January-February 2006 compared to November-December 2005. This was the third slight increase in a row.

Dutch manufacturing production of investment goods rose slightly in the period January-February 2006 compared to November-December 2005. On the other hand, output of raw materials and semi-manufactured goods and, to a lesser extent, output of consumer goods declined in this period.