4.2% Rise In Production

The index of production increased by 4.2% in August compared with August 2009. The manufacturing index showed an increase of 6% over the same period. The annual index also showed that 10 of the 13 sub-sectors increased production but it fell in 3 sub-sectors. The biggest increases were in machinery and equipment with 16% and food, drink and tobacco with 7.7%. The main contributors sectors within machinery and equipment were machinery for the production of mechanical power with a 41% increase and the manufacture of 'other special machinery' with 26.4%. The processing and preserving of fish, fruit and vegetables was the main contributor in the food, drink and tobacco sub-sector with 32.8% growth and next came bread, biscuits, pastry goods and cake with 15.3%.