According to Statistics Sweden’s preliminary estimates total stocks in industry decreased by 3.5 per cent during the 3rd quarter as compared to the 2nd quarter. Compared with the level one year ago, total stocks were up by 2.4 per cent.
Stocks were down by 4.1 per cent in the intermediate goods industry during the 3rd quarter as compared to the last quarter and a comparison with the 3rd quarter one year ago showed a increase of 1.8 per cent. Stocks in the capital goods industry decreased by 1.6 per cent during the 3rd quarter and as compared to the same quarter one year earlier stocks were up by 2.1 per cent. Stocks in the durable consumer goods industry were down by 9.8 per cent and the yearly comparison showed a decrease of 10.1 per cent. The non-durable consumer goods industry showed a stock decrease of 4.9 per cent for the 3rd quarter as compared to the 2nd quarter. A comparison with the 3rd quarter of 2002 showed a stock increase of 6.3 per cent.