Industrial output up 5.2% in April

Industrial output in the first four months of the year rose 4.7% from the corresponding period of last year, with the index calculated based on comparable conditions in terms of number of working days progressing 4.5%.

Industrial output in April went up 5.2% compared with the same month in 2003 based on comparable conditions in terms of number of working days, according to the National Statistics Institute.

Statistical data shows that Romanians kept shopping, meaning that the turnover of companies dealing in retail (except for vehicle and motorcycle retailers) was 16.4% higher in the first quarter of the year compared with the first quarter of 2003.

A substantial growth was particularly registered in the sale of non-foodstuffs, which were 18% higher than last year. Sales of foodstuffs also increased, by 14.4% compared with the same time in 2003.

Companies selling cars, motorbikes or car fuels didn’t have a bad quarter either, as far as sales were concerned. They sold 12.7% more in Q1 than in Q1, 2003. This trend was largely due to the 14.9% increase in the revenues derived from selling car fuels and to the 10.3% jump in the revenues derived from the sale of vehicles.

The managers of retail companies estimate their businesses will keep growing, which will implicitly lead to more jobs.

Companies providing services to the population saw a 28.9% turnover growth in Q1 2004, compared with Q1 2003.

Furthermore, the total turnover of companies in the industrial sector was 11.2% higher in real terms in the first three months of this year than during the same period last year. The managers of industrial companies said they are optimistic, anticipating an increase in output in the near future.

The National Statistics Institute data points to a positive development in the construction sector in the first quarter. Investments directed to new construction works amounted to 16,654.2bn ROL (38.7% of the total), up 7.6% from the first quarter in 2003.

Construction works in the first three months of 2004 were worth 27,675.4bn ROL, 6.9% higher than in the corresponding period of 2003.

New construction works reached 16,654.2bn ROL, accounting for 60.2% of total constructions. Capital repair works amounted to 3,995.8bn ROL (14.4% of total construction works), while maintenance and regular repair works performed on already existing buildings and structures accounted for 25.4%.

New business in the construction sector totalled 23,321.7bn ROL, with civil engineering accounting for 63.9% of the total orders.

Out of the more than 5,000 construction permits issued in the first three months of this year, 97.4% were requested for the construction of single-home residential buildings.
miruna.lebedencu@zf.ro