Fresh data from the Statistics Office show an annual growth in the value of industrial production, stocks and turnover in industry.

The 3% growth rate in industrial output last year is a slowdown compared to the 5% growth rate recoded in 2018 and a six-year high rate of 8.4% in 2017.

The growth was driven by a 3.4% growth in manufacturing, while the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply sector and mining and quarrying contracted by 0.8% and 3.6%, respectively.

Industrial turnover increased by 2.3%, owing to a 3.1% growth in the foreign market and a 1% growth in the domestic market. Sales revenue rose across all main industrial groupings, the most in consumer goods industries, at 4.5%.

In December, industrial turnover was 1.8% lower than in November and 1.5% higher than in December 2018.

The value of stocks rose by 4.1% last year. In December their value fell by 0.5% compared to the month before but rose by 2.9% year-on-year.