The Opposition this afternoon welcomed the 8.9 per cent increase in industrial production registered in May but said this  had to be taken within the context of an 11.3 per cent drop in industrial production in May last year.

In a statement, finance shadow minister Mario de Marco and spokesman Robert Arrigo pointed out that industrial production in Malta registered drops in 15 of the 20 months between October 2013 and May 2015.

There were signs that the manufacturing industry in 2015 was clawing back some of the decrease in production experienced in 2013 and 2014. The Opposition hoped this positive trend continued in the interest of the thousands of people whose livelihood depended on Malta's manufacturing industry.

“The Opposition calls on government to use its resources wisely to help strengthen our country's economic competitiveness rather than spending tax money on fulfilling electoral promises that add little or no value to the country's economy,” they said.

Index of industrial production adjusted for working days