Brasília – Technicians from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) believe there are “clear signs” of a pickup in Brazilian industry output in the first two months of 2014 from the final quarter of 2013, up 1.3%. According to the Monthly Industrial Survey/Regional Physical Output, in February, industry production increased across all bases of comparison, and in the vast majority of the 14 locations surveyed.
The positive results range from 0.4%, in February from January this year, to 5%, February-on-February. The annualized rate, i.e. the accumulated results from the past 12 months, was also up by 1.1%.
On comparing quarter four 2013 and the first two months of 2014, output increased in nine out of 14 areas surveyed. The figures are in keeping with the nationwide index, which was down 0.3% in quarter four last year and up 1.3% in the first two months this year.
Output increased in nine out of 14 regions surveyed in February this year, and twelve regions showed greater dynamism than in January. The highest increments in February from January took place in the states of Paraná (from 5.2% to 6.9%); Minas Gerais (from -2.3% to -1.0%); Amazonas (from 0.6% to 1.9%); and Pernambuco (from 1.5% to 2.6%). The sharpest decline was seen in the state of Goiás (from 5.4% to 4.5%).
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
