Robust decrease in manufacturing output

In November, the average daily output of Dutch manufacturing industry was over 6 percent down on November 2007. In all branches of manufacturing industry output was lower than twelve months previously. The slump in November 2008 was the largest ever monitored.

Seasonally adjusted figures provide a more reliable picture of short-term production developments. Monthly figures not adjusted for seasonal effects are often somewhat erratic. Therefore, the two-monthly average compared with the previous two-monthly average is a more accurate indicator. After correction for seasonal effects and the number of working days, manufacturing output declined considerably by 3.4 percent over the period October-November compared with August-September.

Manufacturing output