Taiwan Industrial Output Growth Quickens, Retail Sales Fall

(RTTNews) - Taiwan's industrial production growth rebounded sharply in February, while retail sales fell for the first time in four months, separate reports from the Ministry of Economic Affairs showed on Tuesday.

Industrial production advanced 17.91 percent yearly in February, much faster than the 4.87 percent growth in January.

Among the main sectors, the annual growth of manufacturing output accelerated to 18.95 percent from 5.30 percent, while mining and quarrying production rebounded by 1.97 percent. Data showed that the electricity and gas supply segment logged a marginal contraction of 0.86 percent.

On a month-on-month basis, industrial production climbed seasonally adjusted 4.81 percent from January, when it dropped by 3.81 percent.

Another report from the statistical office showed that retail sales fell 3.84 percent in February, in contrast to a 5.51 percent in January.

Sales at general merchandise stores plunged 11.05 percent from last year, and demand for textiles and clothing in specialized stores tumbled by 21.6 percent.