Area Development
Manufacturing sales in Malaysia, a key indicator of that nation's economy, rose by an annual rate of 18.5 percent in April as compared to the same month a year earlier, according to data released by the Malaysian government. Officials credit the increase to strong performance of refined petroleum products, computers, and computer peripherals. The number of people employed in the manufacturing sector, which accounts for approximately one-third of Malaysia's gross domestic product, rose 0.9 percent to 1.096 million in April. So far in 2008, Malaysia's manufacturing sector has grown by 15.8 percent.