MaltaMedia.com

Provisional seasonally adjusted data
released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) indicate that in the third
quarter of 2012 industrial turnover increased by 2.9 per cent over the previous
quarter and over the corresponding period in 2011, working day adjusted
industrial turnover increased by 7.6 per cent.

When comparing the third quarter last year
to the previous quarter, seasonally adjusted industrial turnover increased by
2.9 per cent. The growth in industrial turnover was the result of an increase
in all main industrial components, with the exception of non-durable consumer
goods, which declined by 0.7 per cent. This increase was mainly due to
intermediate and capital goods, which rose by 8.3 and 10.7 per cent
respectively.

Seasonally adjusted employment increased
from 73.1 to 73.8 points, with positive developments in nearly all main
industrial groupings. Intermediate goods and energy rose by 3.2 and 2.0 per
cent respectively. Additionally, hours worked went up by 0.8 per cent while
wages and salaries increased by 2.9 per cent from 96.3 points in the second
quarter of 2012 to 99.1 points in the subsequent period.

NSO said that when compared to the
corresponding quarter in 2011, working day adjusted turnover increased by 7.6
per cent. Intermediate and capital goods advanced by 12.1 and 22.6 per cent
respectively.

Total turnover was offset by downturn
movements in energy and durable goods of 4.3 and 6.8 per cent respectively.
Year-on-year data for employment decreased by 0.1 per cent. Industrial hours
adjusted for calender movements increased by 0.7 per cent while adjusted
industrial wages and salaries rose by 6.0 per cent.