Bulgaria's Industrial Index Up 1.5 % in April 2011 M/M

The seasonally adjusted industrial production index increased by 1.5% in April 2011, compared to March 2011.

The preliminary data was released Tuesday by the National Statistics Institute, NSI.

In April 2011, the work day adjusted industrial production index rose by 9.4%, compared to the same month of 2010.

In April 2011, compared to March 2011, the seasonally adjusted industrial production index in the mining and quarrying industry increased by 1.3%, in the manufacturing by 0.2% and in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply sector by 6.2%.

The most significant increases of production in the manufacturing were seen in the manufacture of textiles by 8.1%, in the repair and installation of machinery and equipment by 5.9%, in the manufacture of chemicals and chemical products by 5.5%, in the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations by 5.0%.

There was a decrease in the printing and reproduction of recorded media by 10.6%, in the manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products by 4.7%.

On annual basis, in April 2011 the work day adjusted industrial production index, in the mining and quarrying industry grew by 15.9%, in the manufacturing by 5.1% and in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply sector by 18.6%.

Increases were registered in the production of energy by 15.3%, in the production of intermediate goods by 5.9% and in the production of investment goods by 4.6%.

Seasonal adjustment is a statistical method, which eliminates the seasonal component of time series and it is particularly suitable for longterm comparisons and analysis of the data.

Work day adjustment is an adjustment for variations in monthly data, caused by calendar effects, different number of calendar and work days in the month, and national holydays - for example the presence of more days off in May could contribute to the decline in the production in some activities.