Industry enjoys growth surge
Strong growth in exports has been accompanied by healthy sales figures for industry, which posted 7.6 per cent higher revenues in the second quarter.
The figures, released by the Federal Statistical Office, showed that industrial production had also jumped by 4.3 per cent, providing more evidence of an economic recovery.
Production rose 2.6 per cent in the first quarter compared with the same period last year, confirming a growth trend. Orders in the second quarter were also up over four per cent.
The figures do not include the construction industry, which saw growth of 6.9 per cent in the second quarter.
The positive numbers were as yet not having any impact on unemployment, said the Statistics Office, although the number of vacancies was rising. It added that companies were producing more with less because of cost-cutting and better use of capital.
Strongest growth was recorded in the consumer durables industry – refrigerators, washing machines, etc.
Other high performers were certain energy producers, such as nuclear fuels, as well as leather goods and shoes, chemicals, and the processing industries.
Energy and water suppliers saw sales fall, as did the paper industry and printers and publishers.
swissinfo with agencies
Strongest growth industries in terms of production (second quarter:
Manufacture of coke, refined petroleum; products and nuclear fuel: 31.9%;
Manufacture of leather products and footwear: 13.5%;
Chemicals and chemical products: 9%;
Manufacture of rubber and plastic products: 7.9%;
Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products: 20.2%.
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