Woes For Manufacturers

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday January 6, 2009

By Business Editor GREG ELLIS

MANUFACTURING activity ended 2008 on a weak note with a fall for the seventh straight month, according to the Australian Industry Group PricewaterhouseCoopers Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index.

It was, however, a modest fall in December, but Australian Industry Group chief executive Heather Ridout said it suggested the start of 2009 would bring many challenges for manufacturers, who were already experiencing extremely tough conditions.

Mrs Ridout said there had been a continued decline in new orders as consumers, the construction sector and overseas markets cut back on demand for manufactures.

She said the ongoing unwinding of inventories suggested that production would ease further in coming months.

© 2009 Illawarra Mercury

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