Industrial production and construction declined again in April

The National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC) reported Wednesday that industrial production and construction in April recorded a further decline of one year on the other by 8.8% and 7.5%, respectively, although the figures reveal that the contractions were lower than March.

With the red, the index of industrial manufacturing output (IPI manufacturing) accumulates in the first quarter a decline of 10.6% over the same period of 2018.

However, compared to March, a positive figure was recorded: growth was 2.3%.

In April 2019, the index of the seasonally adjusted series showed a positive variation of 2.3% over the previous month and the trend trend series index showed a positive change of 0.2 % compared to the previous month, "explained the agency. official statistics.

With the April results, industrial production increased 12 consecutive months. The biggest collapses were recorded last December, when the indicator fell by 14.8%.

None of the sectors posted positive results in the fourth month of the year and "transportation equipment" was hardest hit. It dropped 48.1% from the same month last year.

"Food and beverages" recorded a decline of 1.1%; "Tobacco products", 16.8%; "Textile products, 17.9%; Apparel, leather and footwear", 16.3%; and "Wood, paper, publishing and printing", 3.0%, among others.

Slowing down of construction

Construction recorded its eighth consecutive monthly decline in April and has accumulated so far this year, compared with the same period last year, with a 10% collapse, according to the report. # 39; Indec.

"Data on the apparent consumption of construction inputs in April 2019 show that, compared to the same month of the previous year, decreases of 27.2% in soils and ceramic coatings and in 22.5% of ceramic sanitary ware, among others.

However, demand for some products such as gypsum (+ 9.4%), valves, seamless steel pipes and glbad for construction (4.2%) and processed concrete (3.4%) seemed to be reactivated.