New Zealand Q2 Manufacturing Activity Slows



The total volume of sales for manufacturing activity dropped a seasonally adjusted 0.7 percent in the second quarter of 2014 compared to9 the previous three months, Statistics New Zealand said on Monday - following the 0.5 percent gain in Q1. Excluding meat and dairy product manufacturing, sales were up 0.1 percent on quarter. Meat and dairy product manufacturing fell 1.4 percent. "Meat and dairy manufacturing sales have edged down in the last two quarters following a large rise in the December 2013 quarter," business indicators manager Neil Kelly said. Among the other components of the data, sales for chemical, polymer, and rubber product manufacturing fell 3.0 percent, while sales for petroleum and coal product manufacturing advanced 2.4 percent. By value, total manufacturing tumbled 1.9 percent on quarter, or NZ$481 million. Excluding meat and dairy product manufacturing, sales eased 0.2 percent. Meat and dairy product manufacturing dropped 5.7 percent, or NZ$485 million. The trend for the total manufacturing sales volume, which gives a longer-term picture of movements, has flattened after recent rises, the bureau said.

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