24 Jan 2011

Manufacturing sector on firmer footing

7:22 am on 24 January 2011

The manufacturing sector is showing signs of rebounding, after a dire few years.

The BNZ-Business New Zealand Performance of Manufacturing Index showed activity in the sector picked up in the final three months of last year.

In addition, a recent Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion suggested manufacturing companies' profits are climbing, after a weak patch.

Export New Zealand executive director Catherine Beard says the figures show the sector will begin the year on a firmer footing.

But Ms Beard says the main challenge will be the economy, and whether people continue to curb their spending and pay back debt instead.