NI Production Falls

Production in Northern Ireland has fallen by 0.3% over the past year, it has emerged.

The latest Index of Production figures by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA) has revealed that production over the second quarter of 2013 reported no change, but that over the course of a year, it fell 0.3%.

The equivalent UK figures show that output rose by 0.7% over the quarter and fell over the year by 0.7%.

Manufacturing, which represents 85% of the index, increased by 1.1% over the quarter and by 0.2% over the year.

But all three of the other main production sectors reported decreases over the quarter.

Electricity fell by 10.1%, Water Supply and Waste Management by 6.0% and Mining and Quarrying by 1.4%.

Water Supply and Waste Management fell by 11.6% over the year while the other main sectors increased.

Output in the Production sector decreased by 3.7% over the latest four quarters compared to the previous four quarters.

But the NI index has recovered some 7.1% from the minimum level reached in Q2 2009. However, it remains below (-13.8%) the peak recorded in Q4 2007. The UK index reported a similar fall of 13.7% over the same time period.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "While these figures relate to the second quarter of 2013, the growth in manufacturing output corresponds well with other positive indicators of recovery. Unemployment is falling, there is evidence of job growth and house prices have started to increase.

"We know, however, that growth can be uneven and that figures released recently show that construction output continued to fall in the second quarter of 2013. There are therefore no grounds for complacency."

(IT/MH)