For the first time in the last year and a half, Moldovan saw an increase in the industrial production volume. In January-July 2007, the industrial companies of all forms of ownership made products to the sum of about 13.9 bln lei in current prices, which is by 0.5% more compared with the corresponding period last year. The National Bureau of Statistics says that the industrial production volume over January-July 2007 has increased in the following areas: stone cutting, shaping and finishing (2.2 times), production of medical optical instruments and equipment (by 62.6%), fabrication of drugs and pharmaceutical products (by 31.7%), fabrication of finished metal products (by 25.6%), cardboard and paper production (by 22.8%), extractive industry (by 12.6%), furniture production (by 10.0%), shoes production (by 4.3%), glass and glass item production (by 3.9%), etc. At the same time, production of wine fell by 2.2%, of distilled alcoholic drinks by 1.7%, manufacturing of clothes by 5.0%, production and distribution of electrical and thermal energy by 4.6%, production of equipment and machinery by 10.4%, processing and preservation of fruit and vegetables by 3.4%. The production volume at the enterprises of the food and beverages industry decreased by 9.2%. On the other hand, an increase in production was registered by the enterprises operating in the following areas: fabrication of mill products (2 times), production of mineral water and soft drinks (by 39.4%), fat and oil production (by 35.9%), production of meat and meat products (by 25.5%), cacao, chocolate and confectionery production (by 18.1%), beer production (by 17.7%), fresh bread and pastry production (by 6.8%), fabrication of dairy products (by 1.1%), etc.