Rio, 12/8/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Industrial sector sales rose 5.11% in October, compared to September. Sales in the sector have risen steadily since July.

The real increase, less seasonal factors, was 2.66%. There was also an increase in hours worked of 2.98%, also compared to September. Employment was up 0.21%m in October, which means it is up 0.71% of the year.

The numbers are from a National Industrial Confederation survey of 3,000 businesses in 12 states. (AB)