TIRANA, July 7 – The Institute of Statistics has reported the following short term statistic showing the evolution of Albania’s economy during a short-term period and trying to explain the country’s economic cycles.
Beginning in the first quarter of 2008, the quarterly indices of economic indicators were calculated.
The fields of coverage of this survey are: Industry, Construction, Wholesale Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communication and, for the first time, there are included Informatics Services and Architectural and Civil Engineering services.
Industry
Turnover estimated with fixed prices, deflated with Producer Price Index, base year 2005=100, in the first quarter 2008, is increased by 3.7 percent compared with the first quarter 2007. The volume of industrial production is increased during the same period by 30.8 percent.
This increase is higher in the production of electricity, gas, steam and the water supply sector (40.1 percent) followed by the increase of industrial production of Extracting and Manufacturing industry, respectively 11.7 and 15.4 percent. Compared with the previous quarter, the industrial production is increased by 8 percent.
Extracting industry
In Extracting industry in the first quarter 2008 the turnover is increased by 0.8 percent compared with the first quarter 2007, while compared with the previous quarter there is a decrease by 6.5 percent.
Manufacturing Industry
In the manufacturing industry, the turnover estimated with fixed prices increased by 1.4 percent in the first quarter 2008 compared with the same quarter of 2007.
The increase of the turnover was higher in Manufacturing of paper and publications (56.9 percent), Manufacturing of wood (26.3 percent), and in Siderurgy, manufacturing of metallic products, machinery, etc. (28.5 percent), while there was a decrease in Furniture and other Industries (39.7 percent), Manufacturing of Leather and shoes (19.4 percent), Manufacturing of nonmetallic mineral products (16.6 percent).
Electricity, gas, steam and water supply
Turnover in electricity, gas, steam and water supply sector, estimated with fixed prices, increased by 9.9 percent in the first quarter 2008 compared with the first quarter 2007, while compared with the previous quarter it increased by 25.3 percent.
Construction
In the construction sector there was an increase in the specific indicators as result of civil engineering work in Durres-Kukes-Morine highway, during the sixth month of 2007. Turnover with fixed prices (deflated with the Construction Cost Index), 2005=100, in the construction sector has increased by 40.7 percent from the first of 2007 to the first quarter 2008. The increase in civil engineering work is 372.2 percent compared with the first quarter 2007, compared with the previous quarter this indicator decreased 8.2 percent.
Wholesale
In 2005, for the first time in a quarterly period, surveyed economic enterprises operated in Wholesale Trade activity.
Turnover with fixed prices (deflated with the Production Price Index), 2005=100, prices in wholesale increased by 31.8 percent from the first of 2007 to first quarter 2008, compared with previous quarter this indicator increased 8.2 percent.
Hotels
In the first quarter there were surveyed all hotels that exercise economic activity in our country, accepting the criterion of choosing hotels with 5 + rooms. For the first quarter 2008 the figures are not applicable.
Other services
Starting in the first quarter 2008, in the sector of services are included economic activities such as computer services and architectural and engineering services. For this group of enterprises statistical information are collected for main indicators such as turnover, number of employees and wages.
Transport
Turnover in value, in Railway Transport increased by 45.1 percent from first quarter 2007 to first quarter 2008 mainly in the transport of goods. Compared with previous quarter this increase is 2.6 percent.
In Maritime transport, the turnover value is increased significantly by 94.1 percent, compared with the first quarter 2007.
In Air transport this indicator showed a slight decrease by 1.5 percent in the value of turnover, during the same period. Compared with the previous quarter the turnover has increased by 3.2 percent. In Travel Agency sector the value of turnover is always estimated with current prices, rose by 22.5. From the first quarter 2007 to first quarter 2008 Post and Telecommunication Turnover in value in post activity rose by 25.7 percent from first quarter 2007 to first quarter 2008, while turnover in telecommunication activity increased by 5.2 percent. Compared with the previous quarter this indicator showed a decrease of 5.3 percent in post activities and 0.7 percent in telecommunication services.
