South Africa’s manufacturing production increased by 0.9% in March [SOUND]

# Statistics South Africa says manufacturing production rose by 0.9-percent in March compared with the same period last year. The increase was driven mainly by gains in food and beverages, petroleum and chemical products, and electrical machinery. However, the wood, paper, publishing and printing sector recorded a decline. Stats SA’s Nicolai Claassen says manufacturing sales increased by 1.6-percent in March, showing slow but steady improvement in the sector: