CAPE TOWN: Manufacturing production fell in April compared with a year ago, indicating a weak start to economic growth in the second quarter.
Manufacturing production decreased 2% year on year in April after increasing 4% year on year in March, a 0.3% year-on-year decline in February and a 2.4% contraction in January, Statistics SA data showed on Thursday.
The decline in manufacturing output was not too surprising given the severe load shedding in April that disrupted production.