Industrial output rises in May

Industrial output recorded an increase in May, rising by 3.4% compared with the same month of 2005.

All categories of industry rose: manufacturing rose by 2.3%–the first rise in 6 months—mining and quarrying rose by 13.0% and electricity, gas and water rose by 6.3%.

The heavily weighted food, beverages and tobacco sector recorded a fall, however, of 5.8% and has not risen this year.

For the period January-May 2006 the index recorded a decrease of 0.9% compared to the same period of the previous year.