Index of industrial production, April 2003

The output in capital goods has dropped almost 5 per cent during April. Oil platforms and modules made a significant contribution to these changes with a ten per cent decrease in the output. This is a result from the decline in new orders. The major enterprises within oil platforms and modules are now starting to reduce their activity responding to these factors.

Transport and Machinery equipment

A drop in the transport and machinery equipment output has also affected the capital goods output. Weak demands from mainland Norway and lower economic growth internationally have contributed to these changes.

Consumer goods output

The output in consumer goods has had 1 per cent drop during April. This is partly related to the activity within publishing, printing and reproduction, which declined by almost 5 per cent. However, food products, beverages and tobacco have affected the consumer goods output positively, with a three per cent growth in the same period.

Basic chemicals

Intermediate goods output, which saw a modest increase in April, was affected by the output in basic chemicals and pulp, paper and paper products. The output for basic chemical has shown some part of variation during the last twelve months, according to seasonally adjusted figures.