Several industries contribute to manufacturing rise

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing sales increased 1.7 percent in the June 2007 quarter, following a 0.8percent increase in the March 2007 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today.

The result was mainly dueto five industries recording increases of $50 million or more in seasonally adjusted sales.

The largest increases were in the basic metal manufacturing and wood product manufacturing industries.

Other significant contributors to the result were the transport equipment manufacturing, structural, sheetand fabricated metal product manufacturing, and other food manufacturing industries.

This increase was tempered by a fall in seasonally adjusted sales for the meat and dairy product manufacturing industry during the June 2007 quarter.

With this industry excluded, seasonally adjustedmanufacturing sales increased 2.7 percent. With the effects of price changes removed, seasonally adjusted manufacturing sales increased 1.7 percent,reflecting the volumes change.

Prices remained unchanged during the June 2007 quarter.

The manufacturing sales trend has increased since the June 2003 quarter, apart from a small declineduring the December 2006 quarter