31 May, 2000
Inquiries: Mr Erkki Lääkäri +358 9 1734 3355
Director in charge: Mr Markku Suur-Kujala
Output growth continued in March
The volume of total output was 3.8 per cent greater in March 2000 than in March 1999. In February, output grew by 5.2 per cent from the previous year. The Monthly Indicator of Total Output of Statistics Finland indicates that output went up in all main industries of the national economy, except in agriculture and forestry, and trade.
Output in manufacturing continued strong in spite of the chemical industry strike. Boosted by the electronic industry, output increased by 9.1 per cent. Output in construction went up by 6 per cent in March. In transport, output grew by 1.3 per cent. Output in agriculture and forestry fell by 3.7 per cent as a result of the nearly 10 per cent contraction in commercial fellings.
The 1.1 per cent decrease in the output of trade was due to the almost 5 per cent fall in the sale of motor vehicles and to the nearly 2 per cent reduction in the volume of wholesale. Other services and government services increased by 2 per cent.
The Monthly Indicator of Total Output is based on thirteen monthly series on different sectors of the economy. The series are summed up by weighting.
Source: Monthly Indicator of Total Output 2000, March. Statistics Finland