Industry - April 2008

In April 2008, seasonally adjusted industrial production increased by 7.1%, compared to March 2008. Industrial production grew by 12.2%, year-on-year. Sales from industrial activity at constant prices increased by 12.8%, year-on-year. The value of industrial new orders increased by 6.5%, year-on-year.
Seasonally adjusted industrial production in April 2008 was up by 7.1%, month-on-month. The trend grew by 0.7% (Table 6).

The year-on-year index of industrial production reached 112.2% in April 2008 (108.3%, working days adjusted). There were two working days more in April 2008 compared to April 2007. Seasonally adjusted (SA) index was 108.2%. The big y-o-y growth of industrial production followed its fall in March 2008 (by 1.9%) while both months were impacted, in the opposite directions, also by calendar variations including the move of Easter date. For March and April in cumulation, the y-o-y industrial production index was 104.8%.
In April 2008, the growth of industrial production (Table 5) was most contributed to by 'manufacture of transport equipment' (+21.2%, contribution to the growth of industry in total 4.5 percentage points), 'manufacture of electrical and optical equipment' (+24.4%, contribution 3.2 p.p.), 'manufacture of basic metals and fabricated metal products' (+11.5%, contribution +1.4 p.p.) and 'manufacture of machinery and equipment' (+16.9%, contribution 1.2 p.p). Decrease of industrial production was recorded only in 'manufacture of food products; beverages and tobacco' (-3.9%, contribution to the drop of industry in total -0.3 percentage points).

In April 2008, production increased in main industrial groupings: 'consumer durables' (+34.3%), and 'capital goods' (+18.4%), 'intermediate goods' (+11.1%) and energy (+2.8%). Production in 'consumer non-durables' was the same as in April 2007.

Revenues from industrial activity at constant prices (of the year 2000) rose by 12.8%, y-o-y (+10.9% at current prices), WDA they increased by 8.6 and by 8.4% SA. The increase of revenues from industrial activity was most contributed to by ‘manufacture of transport equipment’ (+21.3%, contribution to the growth of industry in total 4.7 percentage points), ‘manufacture of electrical and optical equipment’ (+23.5%, contribution 3.5 p.p.) and 'manufacture of machinery and equipment' (+16.8%, contribution 1.4 p.p.). The drop of revenues from industrial activity was most contributed to by 'manufacture of food products; beverages and tobacco' (-4.3%, contribution -0.3 p.p.).

Direct export revenues of industrial enterprises were 15.7% up at constant prices, (+7.5% at current prices). Their contribution to total revenues of industrial enterprises stood at 48.5% (current prices).
Revenues from industrial activity of foreign-controlled enterprises increased by 14.5% at constant prices (+10.4% at current prices). Their contribution to total revenues (at current prices) stood at 59.5%. Direct export sales of industrial foreign-controlled enterprises increased by 17.5% at constant prices (+9.2% at current prices) and made up 76.6% of total revenues of these enterprises (at current prices).
The average number of persons employed in industry increased in April 2008 by 24.9 thousand persons, y-o-y (i.e. + 2.1%). Increases in average number of persons employed were registered in 'manufacture of rubber and plastic products' (+6.6%), 'manufacture of electrical and optical equipment' (+5.6%) and in 'manufacture of transport equipment' (+5.4%). Employment decreased most in 'electricity, gas and water supply' (-7.5%), 'manufacture of leather and leather products' (-7.1%) and in 'manufacture of textiles and textile products' (-4.9%).

The average monthly nominal wage in April 2008 amounted to CZK 22,615 and rose by 10.5%, y-o-y. The average hourly wage increased by 1.0% and stood at CZK 147.2. Labour productivity in industry increased by 9.8% and hourly labour productivity was by 0.9% higher.

Industrial new orders in selected CZ-NACE activities concluded in April 2008 reached the value of CZK 163.8 billion at current prices, of which non-domestic industrial new orders made up CZK 104.0 billion. The y-o-y index of industrial new orders in total stood at 106.5%, the index of non-domestic industrial new orders was 104.0%. Non-domestic industrial new orders rose most in 'manufacture of machinery and equipment' (+12.0%, contribution +1.7 p.p.), 'manufacture of basic metals and fabricated metal products' (+22.8%, contribution +1.7 p.p.) and 'manufacture of radio, television and communication equipment and apparatus' (+23.1%, contribution 1.5 p.p.). Non-domestic industrial new orders dropped most in 'manufacture of office machinery and computers' (-33.0%, contribution -1.5 p.p.), 'manufacture of chemicals and chemical products' (-14.2%, contribution -1.0 p.p.) and 'manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers' (-0.6%, contribution -0.2%).
According to Eurostat New Release, working day adjusted industrial production in the EU27 rose by 1.8% in March 2008 compared to March 2007. Among the EU27 member states for which data were available, the highest increases were registered in Ireland (+6.9%), the Netherlands (+6.6%) and Romania (+5.7%). Germany reported a growth of 5.2%, Slovakia (+1.8%). The biggest decrease was recorded in Portugal (-6.2%).

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Note
Contact: Jan Ernest, tel: (+420) 274054188, e-mail: jan.ernest@csu.gov.cz
Data source: CZSO direct survey in enterprises with 20+ employees
End of data collection: 3 June 2008
End of data processing: 6 June 2008
Related publication: 8001-08 Industry of the Czech Republic ( http://www.czso.cz/csu/2007edicniplan.nsf/p/8001-08 )