The Bureau of Statistics announced that the operating income index in March 2026 increased by 10.2% compared to the same month in 2025, supported by growth in many major economic activities, and the index recorded a monthly increase of 8.1% compared to February last year.
In its March 2026 short-term business indicators statistical report, the authorities explained that the annualized increase in operating revenue was supported by increases of 4.6% in wholesale and retail trade and auto repair, 4.8% and 17.6% in construction, finance and insurance, respectively, as well as increases of 25.5% in mining and quarrying and 4.0% in manufacturing.
On a monthly basis, the wholesale, retail, and auto repair industries increased by 0.2%, the finance and insurance industry increased by 2.6%, and the information and communication industry increased by 0.6%, while the mining and quarrying industry increased by 38.6% and the manufacturing industry increased by 4.4%, resulting in an 8.1% increase in the operating profit index.
Regarding the Workers’ Compensation Index, the authorities reported an increase of 10.0% on an annual basis, due to mining and quarrying activities, financial activities and insurance activities increasing by 0.7% and 14.4%, respectively, as well as manufacturing by 9.9%, construction by 7.9%, wholesale and retail trade and motor vehicle repair by 10.4%.
The monthly workers’ compensation index also rose by 0.4% compared to February 2026, supported by growth in construction, wholesale and retail trade, vehicle repair, mining and quarrying, as well as finance, insurance, transportation and storage activities.
Meanwhile, the number of building permits issued in March 2026 decreased by 0.7% annually to 5,162 from 5,201 in March 2025, according to the data. There was also a monthly decrease of 11.3% compared to February 2026, when the number of permits was recorded at 5,821.
The authorities indicated that the short-term business statistics product is aimed at measuring the performance of different sectors of the economy through monthly indicators that monitor the development and growth rate of economic activities, and suggested reviewing the detailed methodology and tables on the website.
