Manufacturing Sales Trend Turns Down

Manufacturing Sales Trend Turns Down

The trend in manufacturing sales declined by 2.0 percent during the last two quarters of 2004, Statistics New Zealand said today. Over the previous five quarters, from March 2003 to June 2004, the sales trend had risen by 7.2 percent.

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing sales for the December 2004 quarter decreased 1.1 percent compared with the September 2004 quarter. When the effect of price changes is removed, the decrease is 1.2 percent over the same period.

Six of 15 industries recorded decreases in seasonally adjusted sales in the December 2004 quarter compared with the September 2004 quarter. The two largest decreases were for meat and dairy product manufacturing (down $165 million), and basic metal manufacturing (down $133 million). The largest increase in sales was for petroleum and industrial chemical manufacturing (up $79 million), while transport equipment manufacturing recorded a $62 million increase.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

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