In April 2024, the monthly industrial production rebounded in"other manufacturing industries" (+0.9 percent after -0.4 percent) and machinery/equipment goods (+2.7 percent after -1.3 percent). It also increased in mining/quarrying/energy/water supply (+1.2 percent after +0.8 percent). However, it decreased in transport equipment (-2.6 percent after +2.1 percent), with a drop in"other transport equipment" (-4.8 percent after +3.5 percent) and an increase in motor vehicles/trailers (+0.9 percent after +0.1 percent). Additionally, it continued to decline in food/beverages (-0.8 percent after -0.5 percent) and coke/refined petroleum (-0.6 percent after -4.7 percent).

From February to April 2024, the manufacturing industry's output increased by 0.7 percent compared to the previous year, with a modest 0.3 percent increase across the entire industry. The"other manufacturing industries" experienced a 2.0 percent increase, food and beverages increased by 0.7 percent, and coke/refined petroleum surged by 16.8 percent. Conversely, transport equipment experienced a 4.7 percent decline, mining/quarrying/energy/water supply experienced a 1.7 percent decline, and machinery/equipment goods experienced a 1.8 percent decline.

The industrial production index's 0.5 percent increase in April, in light of the previous figures - a 0.3 percent decrease in March, a 0.2 percent increase in February, and a 1.1 percent decrease in January - indicates a recovery trend in the industrial sector. Production is gradually rebounding from previous declines, suggesting potential stabilisation or growth momentum in the industry.

Having unexpectedly fallen in March, goods production is seen rising a monthly 0.5 percent in April.

Industrial production measures the physical output of the nation's factories, mines and utilities. Manufacturing is seen as the best guide to underlying developments as some sectors can be very volatile and cause misleadingly large short-term swings in total industrial production.

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. Like the PPI and the orders data, construction is excluded from the data. 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. Are manufacturers still producing construction supplies and other materials? This detailed report shows which sectors of the economy are growing and which are not.