In September, manufacturing production increased 0.6% from the same month last year, which was a deceleration from the 3.2% expansion seen in August. Sharp decreases in the manufacturing of motor vehicles as well as in the output of rubber and plastic products were behind September’s meagre growth.
On a monthly basis, manufacturing output decreased a seasonally-adjusted 1.7% in September, deteriorating from the healthy 6.4% rise recorded in August. Finally, annual average growth in manufacturing production was 0.1% in September, slightly above the flat reading seen in August.
FocusEconomics Consensus Forecasts panelists expect manufacturing to expand 1.1% in 2016, which is unchanged from last month’s estimate. For 2017, the panel expects manufacturing to increase 2.7%, which is also unchanged from last month’s forecast.