Cristina Índio do Brasil
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Rio - Industrial production in January was down 0.5% in comparison with December, 2004. Compared with January, 2004, however, it was up 6.0%.

During the 12 months ending in January, the index rose 8.5%. This result maintains the upward trend and represents the highest level of growth since July, 1995, when it registered 10%.

These data are part of the Monthly Industrial Survey of Physical Production - Brazil, released yesterday (9) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

In the assessment made by the IBGE, the start of 2005 indicates that growth is continuing, when longer time periods are compared. When the comparison is confined to more recent periods, the level of production evidences a certain degree of stability.

Translation: David Silberstein