Provisional estimates reveal that the industrial producer price index in April decreased by 1.6 per cent when compared to the previous month, while no change was recorded when compared to the corresponding month of 2009.

Monthly comparison

In April, the producer price index for total industry decreased by 1.6 per cent, primarily due to a drop in producer prices of 3.0 per cent in the intermediate goods sector. On the other hand, prices for consumer goods rose by 0.3 per cent. Prices remained stable in the energy and capital goods sectors.

Producer prices for the domestic market remained stable when compared to the previous month. While capital goods decreased by 3.4 per cent, this decline was mitigated by an increase of 0.4 per cent in prices within the intermediate goods sector. No price changes were recorded in the consumer and energy sectors.

During the period under review, prices for the non-domestic market fell by 2.6 per cent on account of a 3.0 per cent decline for goods destined for the euro area. On the other hand, prices of goods destined for the non-euro area rose by 0.6 per cent.

The decrease in producer prices for the euro area was due to a 3.5 per cent drop in prices for intermediate goods, although prices for capital and consumer goods rose by 0.2 and 0.5 per cent respectively.

The rise in producer prices for goods destined for the non-euro area came about as a result of increases of 0.9 and 0.1 per cent respectively in prices for intermediate and capital goods. No price changes were registered for consumer goods.

Annual comparison

Year-on-year producer prices for total industry remained stable on account of contrasting developments within the industrial sector. While energy prices rose by 22.4 per cent, this was offset by a fall in producer prices for intermediate, capital and consumer goods, by 8.7, 0.7 and 0.2 per cent respectively.

Producer prices within the domestic market grew by 16.7 per cent as a result of increases in energy (+22.4 per cent) and consumer goods (+0.8 per cent), while intermediate and capital goods fell by 3.3 and 7.7 per cent respectively.

The annual comparison revealed that producer prices for goods destined for the non-domestic market were down by 7.8 per cent, mainly on account of an 8.7 per cent decline in prices of goods for the euro area. However, producer prices for the non-euro area increased by 0.8 per cent when compared to the corresponding month in 2009.

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