Modest recovery manufacturing output

In July, the average daily output of Dutch manufacturing industry was 10 percent down on July 2008. The decrease was somewhat smaller than in the six preceding months. Industrial output has declined since the summer of 2008 relative to one year previously.

Manufacturing output dropped across all branches compared to July 2008. With a loss of 2 percent, the food, drinks and tobacco branch performed best. The most dramatic reduction by 35 percent occurred in the sector transport equipment.

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 to the previous two-monthly average is a more accurate indicator. After correction for seasonal variation and the number of working days, manufacturing output in the period June - July was just above the level recorded over the period April - May 2009.

Manufacturing output