John Scandrett
Manufacturing in Otago during September reflected the
national and international trends of "flat" activity for the
period.
Otago-Southland Employers Association chief executive John
Scandrett said manufacturing activity in Otago and Southland
could only be described as "flat", with mainly downbeat
comments from those surveyed.
"In the September raw data responses from surveyed parties,
half reflect on negative elements being evident in their
operating space and the other half effectively saying they
are seeing a lift, or a holding pattern, in activity," he
said.
In the BNZ Capital-Business New Zealand performance of
manufacturing index, a reading above 50 indicates expansion
and below 50, a decline.
The Otago-Southland performance was up "marginally" by 2.7
points in September, from 44.7 in August, compared to 48.3 in
July.
Nationally, the result was almost unchanged from 49.3 in
August to 49.2 in September.
Mr Scandrett said the latest result showed the region "had
not yet fully shaken off the impact of the economic
slow-down", in spite of having tracked positively from March
to June.
"There are pockets where manufacturers are doing well but we
need to keep firmly in mind that in other niche areas,
companies are falling short on targeted outcomes."
Business New Zealand's executive director for manufacturing,
Catherine Beard, said the "flat patch" was mirrored offshore.
"Looking across the Tasman, Australia has also fallen under
the 50 mark of no change, with a value of 47.3 in September."
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