Certain sectors of the economy are showing signs of concern, particularly the downward trend in industrial output and exports, the Nationalist Party said yesterday.

In a statement, Opposition finance spokesman Mario de Marco welcomed the European Commission’s report forecasting a positive economic future, but said the party was concerned at the situation being faced by industrialists, business owners and families.

Statistics by the National Statistics Office showed that industrial production in December 2014 went down by 3.6 per cent when compared with December 2013.

This was not a one-off decrease, Dr de Marco said, as statistics confirmed that between March 2013 and December 2014 industrial production had decreased consistently on a monthly basis for all but three months.

This decrease can have a huge impact on employees’ income

Other statistics published last week by the NSO showed that exports from Malta had dropped by €720 million in two years. This is equivalent to a 16 per cent drop.

“This decrease can have a huge impact on employees’ income,” the PN said.

It also pointed out that while Eurostat reported retail trade had increased across Europe, Malta was one of the few countries that registered a drop.

“It is unfortunate that the government is refusing to acknowledge that something is amiss in these sectors, and is focusing its attention on other areas of the economy that are performing well.”