Manufacturing output higher

11/07/2006 16:18

The Dutch manufacturing production in May, after adjustment for working day patterns, was up by 1.8 percent on May 2005. In the first five months of 2006 production was 0.9 percent higher than the year before.

In May 2006, output increased in nearly all branches compared to May last year. The 3 percent production increase in metal industry was considerable. Output declined in paper, printing and publishing.

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 of the preceding two-month period.

After adjustment for seasonal effects and working day patterns, manufacturing output in the period April-May was 0.1 percent higher than in February-March. It is the sixth increase in a row.