Chile – December manufacturing production and real retail sales data are expected to be mixed today.

Chile – December manufacturing production and real retail sales data are expected to be mixed today.

December mixed manufacturing production and real retail sales data will attract attention today. Manufacturing production is expected to have maintained its y/y pace of growth unchanged at 0.8% in December. In sequential (sa) terms, we expect a flat reading. This would put annual manufacturing production growth at 2.2% for all of 2012.

Real retail sales, meanwhile, are estimated to have expanded modestly in sequential terms in December following a large gain the previous month. This would put retail sales growth at 7.7% y/y in December and a strong 8.4% y/y for last year as a whole.

According to the National Chamber of Commerce, real retail sales advanced 6% in 2012, and a similar expansion is expected this year.