PRODUCTION IN AUST.

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31586, 25 January 1968, Page 14

PRODUCTION IN AUST.

December Was Again Patchy (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY, January 24. The Australian production performance in December was again patchy, in line with the trend of the previous two months. About 40 per cent of the recorded production indicators showed a downturn compared with December, 1966, although the heavy industry sector, which has recorded abnormal lags in the previous two months, picked up during December. Notable downturns were in the consumer durable section of industry, with all sectors showing a fall. Leading the fall with a remarkable 61.6 per cent deline was lawnmower production, with the marked December drop following a steady though more moderate declining trend of recent months. Refrigerators The output of refrigerators fell from 20,300 to 17,600, washing machines from 17,300 to 16,900, radio sets from 475,000 to 457,000, and television sets from 16,600 to 16,200. The production of cars and station waggons fell from 21,600 to 19,200, and production of trucks and truck type vehicles from 1640 to 1560. In the heavy industry sector all recorded areas registered gains.