29 June 2001
Inquiries: Mr Arto Kokkinen +358 9 1734 3355
Director in charge: Mr Markku Suur-Kujala
Growth of total output slowed down to 1.9 per cent in April
The volume of total output was 1.9 per cent greater in April 2001 than in April 2000. In March, output grew by 3.7 per cent from the previous year. The Monthly Indicator of Total Output of Statistics Finland indicates that falling industrial output weakened economic growth in April. However, transport and trade upheld total economic growth.
Output in transport grew by close on 8 per cent. Transportation of goods increased particularly strongly. Trade grew by 3 per cent. Within the trade activity, wholesale trade increased by 7 per cent and retail trade by 4 per cent.
Industrial output fell by close on one per cent in April. Output in the manufacture of electrical products as calculated per working day fell by as much as 25 per cent, but output in the wood and paper industry went up by 21 per cent. Partial reason for the growth in the wood and paper industry's output was the strike that affected the paper industry in April 2000.
Output in agriculture and forestry grew by 3 per cent thanks to increases in fellings and meat production. Output in other services and government services went up by over 2 per cent. Construction output contracted by 4 per cent from April 2000.
The Monthly Indicator of Total Output is based on twelve monthly series on different sectors of the economy. The series are summed up by weighting.
Source: Monthly Indicator of Total Output 2001, April. Statistics Finland