Ivan Richard
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - The industrial sectors with the highest production growth indices in the first quarter of this year in comparison with the final quarter of 2005, were: petroleum refining, transportation equipment (except automobiles), electronic and communications equipment, pharmaceuticals, and hospital equipment.

These findings come from the indicators released yesterday (9) by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI). The sectors that showed the biggest declines were: alcohol, furniture, footwear, clothing, and wood. The index ranges from 0 to 100 points. Scores above 50 indicate increases in production, while scores below 50 indicate declines.

"All the items that showed production increases are produced by large companies, while those that declined are produced by small and medium-sized firms," observed the executive manager of the CNI's Economic Policy Unit, economist Carlos Castelo Branco.

Translation: David Silberstein