RAMALLAH, February 28, 2010 (WAFA)- Palestinian Central Bureau  of Statistics (PCBS) said that Industrial Production Index indicates a stability in the West Bank in January 2010 compared with the previous month.

The overall Industrial Production Index (IPI) reached 111.71 in January 2010, compared to 111.19 in December 2009.  IPI increase by 11.71% compared with base month (January 2009).

The results indicated that there was an increase by 0.47% in the industrial production index in January 2010 compared to December 2009.

Analysis of Industrial Production Index developments for January 2010 indicated an increase in the following major groups compared to December 2009:

 -  Manufacture of rubber and plastic: 29.80%

 -  Tanning of leather, manufacture of bags: 15.10%

 -  Manufacture of wearing apparel: 14.57%

 -  Recycling: 10.71%

 -  Manufacture of tobacco products: 9.93%

 -   Mining and quarrying: 7.44%                                      

 -  Manufacture of basic metals:  7.16%

Analysis of Industrial Production Index developments for January 2010 indicated a decrease in the following major groups compared to December 2009:

-  Manufacture of metal products: -6.37%

-  Manufacture of wood and its products: -5.57%

-  Manufacture of paper and its products: -5.05%

-  Manufacture of chemicals & its products: -4.07%