Accelerated growth in total output in April

Total output was up by 8 per cent in the year to April. After adjustment for seasonal variation, output in April was 0.5 per cent higher than in March. In March output rose by 5.9 per cent compared to the year before. The growth in output was partly due to the fact that there were two working days more in April of 1997 than in April of 1996. The data are based on Statistics Finland's monthly indicator of total output.

In agriculture and forestry output rose by close on 24 per cent in the year to April thanks to commercial fellings. Output in manufacturing was nearly 8 per cent higher than the year before as calculated per working day. The growth in output in construction was particularly strong in April, reaching 21 per cent. Output in trade and commerce increased by 6.5 per cent and that in transport and communications by 14 per cent. Output in other services as well as in government services grew by 2.5 per cent.

The monthly indicator of total output is based on eleven monthly series on different sectors of the economy, which are weighted and summed up.

Source: Statistics Finland, Monthly Indicator of Total Output, April 1997
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