31 October 1997
Inquiries: Mr Erkki Lääkäri, tel. +358 9 1734
3355
Statistical director in charge: Mr Markku
Suur-Kujala
Slight slowdown in output growth in August
Total output was up by 5.4 per cent in the year to August as indicated by the Monthly Indicator of Total Output calculated by Statistics Finland. Growth slowed down from July, when output grew by 7.8 per cent on the year before. However, the fast growth rate in July was partly due to the differences in the timing of holidays and shut-downs for repairs in manufacturing this year and last year.
Output increased in all branches of industry in August. Output in the construction industry continued at a brisk rate, up by 9.5 per cent in the year to August. Output in the manufacturing industry as calculated per working day grew by 8.2 per cent. In transportation output was up by 6.5 per cent and in trade and commerce by 5 per cent. In agriculture and forestry output increased by 4.5 per cent, with commercial fellings up by 7.5 per cent. In other services and government services output grew by 1.5 per cent.
The monthly indicator of total output is based on eleven monthly series of different sectors of the economy. The series are summed up by weighting.
Source: Monthly Indicator of Total Output, August 1997. Statistics Finland