Manufacturing Sales Increase in September Quarter

Economic Survey of Manufacturing: September 2000 quarter

Manufacturing Sales Increase in September Quarter

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing sales rose by 4.8 per cent in the September 2000 quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand's latest Quarterly Manufacturing Survey. This is the seventh successive quarter for which sales have increased, representing the most sustained period of growth since the current series commenced in December 1990. During this period of growth sales have increased by 20.1 per cent.

If the effects of price increases (as measured by relevant Producers Price Index components) are removed, the volume of manufacturing sales increased by 1.3 per cent in the September 2000 quarter.

Sales growth was broad-based in the September 2000 quarter, with seven of the 10 manufacturing industries recording increased sales. Even so, almost 60 per cent of the overall growth in sales came from meat and dairy product manufacturing. This is the second quarter this year that meat and dairy product manufacturing has contributed more than half of the total increase in manufacturing sales. Seasonally adjusted sales of meat and dairy manufactured products reached $3.3 billion. This is the first time they have exceeded $3 billion. There were also increases of $145 million and $98 million in sales of petroleum, coal, chemical and associated product manufacturing and other food, beverage and tobacco manufacturing respectively.

Ian Ewing DEPUTY GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN

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