The value of production index (VPI) in key manufacturing enterprises slightly increased by 0.5 percent to 438.2 in May 1997 from 436.1 a year ago. On a month-on-month comparison, VPI decreased by 0.8 percent from 441.9 last April 1997. These figures…

Merchandise trade for May 1997 grew by 14.2 percent year-on-year to $4.939 billion from $4.324 billion. Imports valued at $2.956 billion grew by 9.0 percent from $2.712 billion, while exports rose by 23.0 percent to $1.983 billion from $1.612…

Value of exports for the first five months of 1997 grew by 22.7 percent to $9.558 billion, an increase of $1.769 million from $7.789 billion recorded a year earlier. Receipts from merchandise exports for May 1997 alone posted a 22.2 percent gain as…

Measured from a year ago, the national inflation rate increased to 4.8 percent from 4.2 percent last month. The index was estimated at 239.0 in June from 236.0 in May.

The value of production index (VPI) in key manufacturing enterprises increased by 10.8 percent to 438.5 in April 1997 from 395.9 a year ago. On a month-on-month comparison, VPI increased by 2.7 percent from 426.8 last March 1997. These figures were…

The estimated national labor force population in April 1997 reached 31.4 million persons. Last year's comparative estimate was 30.7 million persons.

The balance of trade-in-goods (BOT-G) deficit for April 1997 dropped by 34.8 percent to $860 million from $1.319 billion year back as aggregate bills from imported goods posted a slower growth rate compared to revenue from merchandise exports.…

Revenue earned from the merchandise exports posted a 39.6 percent upswing as April 1997 receipts reached $2.082 billion, surpassing $1.492 billion in 1996 by $590.50 million. Compared to the previous month, exports gained by 4.1 percent from $2.001…

Measured from a year ago, the national inflation rate continued to slow down as it settled to 4.2 percent from 4.6 percent in April.

Building Permit Applications Rose to 27,714 Building permit applications during the second quarter of 1997 increased by 35 percent reaching to 27,714 from 20,573 received during the same period in 1996. Applications for all types of building…