The latest Government figures on the oconomy paint a very gloomy picture indeed. ‘The drop of another point in the index of industrial production between Decomber, 1961 and January, 1962 gives the lowest level for nearly two years. The decline scems to be a general one, in manufacturing industries the decline was two points, whilst cortain basic industries: engineering, Vehicles and stecl were static,
The Mareh unemployment figures reversed the very slight improvement rogistered in the previous month. Usually the number of peopkb wholly unemployed may be expected to fall by some 18, from Februaryg this year,instead, it rose by a few hundred. Theo figures being, seasonally adjusted in brackets; Fobruary 407.9 thousand (353.9) and Iiarch 408,1 thousand (371.7) this compares with the average of 304.8 thousand for 1961, The percentage unemployed for Jiarch 12th w 2.0 por cont as compared with 1.6 per cent of one year ago. Porhaps more significantly, there has been another relative decline in the number of notified vacancies, For February thore wore, seasonally adjusted in brackots again, 213 thousand (253) and liarch 218 thousand (239).
— — we ce” Viranns Peer erst rh Aw