Economic growth continued in the February to April period, as the export of goods rose 8.8% in annual terms
According to economic indicators for the period February-April 2006, published last week by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), economic growth continued in the February to April period, as the export of goods rose 8.8% in annual terms.
The three months data published by the CBS indicate that industrial output rose by an annualized 7.4% in February-April and imports of raw materials increased by an annualized 8.7%.
The number of nights for tourists in hotels rose by an annualized 58% in February-April. Trade and service proceeds rose by 2.4%, and labor inputs increased by an annualized 8.9%.
Only one indicator, import of investment goods, fell by an annualized 9.6% in February-April.
Imports also rose 4.2%, and the trade gap was $147 million in April, or only $1.8 billion in annual terms.
Industrial production was up 7.4% in February and March, following a 8.7% rise in the previous two months.
Unemployment also dropped in the first quarter of 2006 by 0.1% to 8.7%.
