Brasília – The Brazilian industry’s use of installed capacity (UIC) increased in September from August, from 80.5 to 81.3 points, based on seasonally adjusted data. In the month, in addition to a 0.8 point increase in UIC, the hours worked in production index increased by 1% and actual revenues increased by 0.8%. The figures are part of the Industrial Indicators released this Monday (3rd) by the National Confederation of Industries (CNI, in the Portuguese acronym).
According to CNI’s executive manager Flávio Castelo Branco, it is still early to tell whether the scenario is one of recovery or stabilization, because despite the positive figures, the pickup in activity failed to prevent quarterly figures from being negative.
“In spite of this growth, the industry outlook remains one of slowdown. This becomes clear upon looking at results,” said Castelo Branco.
According to the CNI, in quarter three, revenues were down 1.5%, and hours worked in production were down 0.8% from quarter two.
Year-to-date through September, revenues were down 2.1% and hours worked in production were down 2.9% from the comparable year-ago period. In quarter three, UIC was the sole indicator to increase, though by a meagre 0.2 percentage point.
In September, for the seventh straight month, the CNI detected a decline in the employment indicator, this time by 0.6%, based on seasonally adjusted data. In Q3 from Q2, the indicator was down 1.6%. In September from August, there was also a decline in total wages paid, by 0.2%, and in average workers income, by 0.3%.
According to Castelo Branco, industry is awaiting pending federal government decisions to get a clearer view of what the scenario will look like from now on.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
