The development of the national economy in the past year shows that the nation's economy is in a difficult state and that no improvement is as yet in sight. Many key indicators for nine months of 1989 rose insignificantly compared with the same period in the preceding year (gross national productby 3.6 percent; produced national income2.4 percent; productivity of social labor2.2 percent; industrial output2.2 percent), while some even declined (new housing, freight shipment).