The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) increased by 5.9 per cent in April 2015 compared with the previous month.

This is according to data produced by the Barbados Statistical Service, which revealed that the growth in the index was due to an increase in Manufacturing by 12.3 per cent.

Meanwhile, declines were reflected in the index for Mining and Quarrying by 20.0 per cent and the consumption of Electricity, Gas and Water by 1.4 per cent.

The IIP for April 2015 recorded an increase of 2.4 per cent when compared with the previous year. Growth was recorded in the index for Mining and Quarrying by 38.4 per cent and Manufacturing by 2.6 per cent. A decrease of 0.2 per cent was recorded for Electricity, Gas and Water.

Output for the Mining and Quarrying Sector grew by 38.4 per cent at the end of April compared with the previous year, with increases being recorded for Mining by 4.0 per cent and Stone Quarrying by 53.0 per cent.

Production in the Electricity, Gas and Water Sector declined by 0.2 per cent when compared with the previous year, due to decreases in the index for Water by 4.5 per cent and Natural Gas by 7.1 per cent. An increase was, however, recorded for generation of Electricity by 1.0 per cent.

Performance of the Manufacturing Sector

Year on year output for April 2015 increased by 2.6 per cent due to growth in the indices for Food by 1.7 percent; Wearing Apparel by 118.8 per cent; Chemicals by 11.1 per cent; Electronic Components by 63.7 per cent and Other Manufacturing by 3.1 per cent.

Meanwhile, year-on-year decreases were recorded for Beverages and Tobacco by 0.8 per cent; Wooden Furniture by 5.0 per cent; and Non-Metallic Minerals by 3.4 per cent.

Author: Economic Affairs Division/BGIS

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