Melnick State of the Economy Index increased by 0.2 percent in March

The business sector continues to grow

An improvement in industrial production

The Melnick State of the Economy Index increased by 0.2 percent in March 2015. The rise in the index reflects continued economic growth. The industrial production index, which reflects the supply side of the business sector, increased despite the moderating effect of the weakness of global activity, especially in Europe. The revenue in commerce and services, which reflects domestic demand and especially private consumption level is high, indicating high domestic demand, despite its decline in the last month.  The imports Index, which consists mainly of imported inputs for domestic production, rose sharply, partially correcting the decline in the previous months.  And the number of employee posts in the business sector continues to rise, reflecting the growth of the economy and the growing demand for workers.

The March Index components include: an increase of 2.5% in the index of industrial production in February, after falling 1.5% in January; a decrease of 0.7% in revenue in commerce and services in February, after no change in January; an increase of 7.7% in the imports Index in March, after falling 6.1% in February, and an increase of 0.3% in the number of employee posts in the business sector in January, after rising 0.3% in December.

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