Singapore industrial production recorded strong growth for the second consecutive month in July, with output increasing 4.1 percent on the month after advancing 3.3 percent in June. Previously published PMI survey data, in contrast, showed weaker growth in the aggregate economy in July.

In year-over-year terms, industrial production fell 0.9 percent in July after dropping 6.6 percent in June. Excluding the biomedical industry, where output is often volatile, year-over-year growth rebounded from a fall of 5.1 percent to an increase of 1.7 percent. This was largely driven by a rebound in the electronics sector, with output there rising 5.1 percent on the year after falling 2.9 percent previously. Output also rebounded on the year in the chemicals industry, fell at a less pronounced rate in the precision engineering industry, and grew at a stronger pace in the transport engineering industry. This was partly offset by bigger year-over-year falls in the general manufacturing and biomedical industries.

The industrial production index measures changes in the volume of industrial production with respect to the base year. The index charts the growth in production of each major industry and of the manufacturing sector. Industrial Production measures the physical output of the nation's factories, mines and utilities. Factories manufacture various products, and the industrial production indexes have been prepared as a comprehensive indicator of wide-ranging production activities for such products and are regarded as some of the most important among economic indexes.

Investors want to keep their finger on the pulse of the economy because it usually dictates how various types of investments will perform. The stock market likes to see healthy economic growth because that translates to higher corporate profits. The bond market prefers more subdued growth that won't lead to inflationary pressures. By tracking economic data such as industrial production, investors will know what the economic backdrop is for these markets and their portfolios.

Industrial production provides key industry data for export-dependent economies. It is highly sensitive to the business cycle and can often predict future changes in employment, earnings and income. For these reasons industrial production is considered a reliable leading indicator that conveys information about the overall health of the economy. This report has a big influence on market behavior. In any given month, one can see whether capital goods or consumer goods are growing more rapidly. Detailed data in the report shows which sectors of the economy are growing and which are not.