Industry Turnover Index registered a nominal year-on-year increase of 15.9% in March (-3.4% in the previous month). Domestic and non-domestic markets change rates shifted from -4.0% and -2.5% in February, respectively, to 11.2% and 22.9% in March. The strong acceleration recorded in the indices reflects the March 2020 base effect, already partly affected by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 1st quarter of 2021, industry sales year-on-year change rate was 0.8% (-6.1% in the previous quarter).

Employment decreased 1.9% (-2.6% in February), while wages and salaries and hours worked grew 1.3% and 1.5%, (change rates of 0.9% and -11.5% in te previous month, by the same order).

Despite the circumstances determined by the pandemic COVID-19, Statistics Portugal calls for the best collaboration by companies, families and public entities in responding to Statistics Portugal’s data requests. The quality of official statistics, particularly its ability to identify the impacts of the pandemic COVID-19, crucially depends on this collaboration, which Statistics Portugal thanks in advance.