Manufacturing production down 9.1%

The volume of manufacturing production fell by 9.1 per cent in the year to the end of November, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The data shows that production of computer, electronic and optical products declined by 36.1 per cent while food production was down 12.5 per cent.

The modern sector - which comprises the technology and chemical sector showed an annual decrease in production for November of 3.7 per cent. During the same period traditional manufacturing declined 17.3 per cent.

Manufacturing production in the three months from September to November was 3.1 per cent lower than in the preceding three months.

Elsewhere, the seasonally adjusted industrial turnover index for Manufacturing Industries was 3.5 per cent lower in the three month from September to November 2009 compared to the previous three-months. On an annual basis turnover was 22.4 per cent lower when compared with November 2008.

Employers' group Ibec described the latest figures as "disappointing" but added that the figures for 2009 as a whole were likely to be better than expected.

"Taking the year as a whole, output in the 11 months to November was down only 1.8 per cen compared with the same period of 2008, which is a creditable performance when compared to the much greater downturn in activity in many other advanced economies," said Ibec chief economist David Croughan.

Ibec called for more resources to be directed towards supporting the sectors that have been worst affected by the economic downturn.