INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION MARKS 7.2 PER CENT INCREASE

( Editorial: --> 1900 ) ZAGREB, Mar 24 (Hina)- Croatian industrial production between December 1997 and February 1998 was, according to the trend-cycle index, 7.2 per cent higher than in the same period a year ago, the State Bureau of Statistics said Monday. According to the National Classification of Activities, a 3.7 per cent increase was registered in mining, a 6.6. per cent increase in food-processing, and a 12.2 per cent increase in power, gas and water supply. At 17.8 per cent, the highest increase between December 1997 and February 1998 was, according to the Main Industrial Groupings, registered in basic products. It is followed by the power industry, with 11.3 per cent, and lasting mass consumption products, with 7.6 per cent. The production of non-lasting mass consumption products rose 6.9 per cent, and that of intermediate goods 6.5 per cent. The trend-cycle is, according to the Bureau of Statistics, a series of indexes which excludes the influence of the chance component. (hina) ha jn 241323 MET mar 98