Overall growth: output, prices, unemployment

Most of the managers in the main economy sectors: industry, constructions and retail see prices going up in the next three months, a survey of the National Statistics Institute (INS) that canvassed managers in the three sectors in February shows. January inflation reached 1.3% and every month that registers inflation above 1.5% threatens the 13%-14% inflationary target for 2003. The survey shows that industry, constructions and the retail sector will witness growth in the next three or four months. The processing industry growth pace will stabilise throughout February-April, given that the end product inventories will maintain. Layoffs will persist in the entire sector, mostly in those companies employing more than 500 people. As regards constructions, the survey shows the sector will follow an upward trend, as estimated by 44% of those canvassed. Most of the managers in the retail business, in their turn, expect to see business improve in the next six months. ZF