Sales by manufacturing enterprises sampled by the National Statistics Office registered a decline of €49.2 million or two percent in 2007, and of €178.9 million or 7.5 percent in 2008 when compared to the previous year.

In 2007 lower sales were registered in the radio, television and communication equipment sector which declined by €76.1 million. At the same time, the food and beverages; tobacco declined by €57.3 million (due to the tobacco industry), while the wearing apparel and clothes declined by €14.2 million.

During the same period increases in sales were registered in the chemicals and chemical products of €51.7 million, in the electrical machinery and apparatus of €28.5 million, and in the publishing and printing sector of €18 million.

The radio, television and communication equipment sector registered a further decline of €197.1 million in 2008.

Other relevant decreases in 2008 were registered in furniture and manufacturing, (- €16.6 million), and in the electrical machinery and apparatus (-€10.1 million). In the same period, the food and beverages; tobacco sector recorded an increase in sales of €25 million. Other increases in sales were registered in the other non-metallic mineral products sector (+€13.3 million), in the publishing and printing (+€7.6 million) and in the fabricated metal products (+€7.4 million).

Average employment in the sampled manufacturing enterprises declined by 418 employees or 2.3 percent in 2007 and by 613 employees or 3.4 percent in 2008.

In the three years under review the main average net decreases in employment were in the wearing apparel and clothes, radio, television and communication equipment and in the furniture and manufacturing sectors.

The chemicals and chemical products and the other transport equipment sectors registered net increases in their employment levels.

Between 2006 and 2007, wages and salaries increased by 2.2 percent to €285.8 million, and decreased by 0.6 percent to €284 million in 2008.

In 2007, average earnings per capita in the sampled manufacturing enterprises increased by 4.5 percent and amounted to €15,816. In 2008, average earnings increased by 2.9 percent to €16,269.

The average turnover per capita in the sampled manufacturing enterprises increased to €132,088 from €131,767 one year earlier.

During 2008, average per capita turnover decreased by 4.2 percent, and amounted to €126,476.

Overall investment increased by 26.6 per cent in 2007 from €139.5 million in 2006, to €176.6 million one year later.

In 2008, investment declined to €149.4 million.