Survey shows more buoyant sales

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33068, 8 November 1972, Page 22

Survey shows more buoyant sales

Business was beginning to pick up. said the president of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr E. P. Chapman) on Monday when he reported that a survey of association members showed that sales for the quarter ended on September 30 were up 8.75 per cent on those for the same quarter last year.

“And I believe it is safe to say that since the quarter under survey there has been a marked increase in economic activity,” said Mr Chapman.

The over-ell survey showed an increase in forward orders of 4.75 per cent, and stock showed no change. Overtime had increased by 2.5 per cent, but staff was still down by 0.76 per cent. “When we consider the increase in sales of 8.75 per cent we must also take into account that between September, 1971, and September, 1972, retail prices increased by 6.5 per cent,” Mr Chapman said. He said it was gratifying that the garment industry had shown the greatest increase (15 per cent) in sales, because that industry had suf-

fered the sharpest down-turn at the beginning of the year. Electrical manufacturers’ sales had increased by 8.75 per cent, building material sales 5.75 per cent, food and drugs 5 per cent and engineering 3.3 per cent.