Agência Brasil
Rio de Janeiro – The rate of industrial growth attained 6.1% in the first four months of the year. Production in Brazil ended the month of April with a 0.1% growth, compared to March, contributing to the elevation of the cumulative result for the four-month period. Cumulative growth over the last 12 months came to 2.0%, up 0.9% from March (1.1%).
In comparison with April 2003, the rate of growth amounts to 6.7%, when seasonal influences are factored out. The data were released by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).
According to the Institute, the indexes of industrial activity in April confirm the maintenance of the level reached in March and the positive results compared with the initial months of 2003. "Consequently, the positive tendency persists, supported by the performance of capital goods, durable consumer goods, and intermediate goods," the IBGE underscores, observing, however, that the signs of growth in the area of semi-durable and non-durable consumer goods are more discreet – a 0.2% rise from March to April, after three negative months, and a 1.5% rise compared with the first four months of 2003.
