Turnover in oil and gas, manufacturing, mining and electricity supply, February 2005

Seasonally adjusted figures show that there was a 3.4 per cent decline in turnover in manufacturing compared with the previous three-month period. The decline is also considerable within Norwegian oil and gas extraction. In spite the continued high price of crude oil, the turnover remained at a low level due to lower oil production.

Unchanged for intermediate goods

The turnover of intermediate goods increased by a meagre 0.2 per cent compared with the previous three-month period. The largest industry within intermediate goods - refined petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products - experienced a strong decline despite strong figures in basic chemicals. An increase in turnover of other non-metallic mineral products and in parts of the industry producing fabricated metal products offset the overall result.

Capital goods down 4.8 per cent

The marked decline in turnover of oil platforms and modules is the main cause for the fall in turnover of capital goods during the last three-month period. Transport equipment also had a slight decrease in turnover. Here, positive figures for fabricated metal products and machinery and equipment, partly offset the decline.

Small decline in consumer goods

Figures for food products, textiles, wearing apparel, leather and publishing, printing and reproduction were more or less unchanged from the last three-month period. However, a 4.3 per cent decline in turnover within furniture and recycling in the last three-month period had a downward effect on the overall turnover of consumer goods. The decline in furniture and recycling was due to weak December figures, but the turnover picked up again in January and February.