Be the first to comment!Agricultural output producer prices down & input prices rise
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During the second quarter of 2010, producer prices for agricultural output decreased by 4.4 per cent while input prices advanced by 1.6 per cent.
Producer Price Index
The producer price index for agricultural products in the second quarter of 2010 stood at 111.69 points, down by 4.4 per cent from 116.77 points in the corresponding quarter of 2009. This decline was reflected by contrasting developments in price movements within the sub-sectors of the agricultural industry.
A drop in the fresh vegetables price index (-1.5 per cent) was essentially the result of lower prices of tomatoes (-55.3 per cent) and onions (-33.6 per cent). On the other hand, prices of sugar melons and green beans increased by 76.7 per cent and 31.8 per cent respectively. The price of potatoes deceased by 33.5 per cent over the comparative quarter as a result of an increase in the supply of this crop.
During the second quarter of 2010, the fruit price index registered a marginal increase of 0.3 per cent, although lower producer prices were recorded for strawberries (-23.1 per cent) and citrus fruit (-18.7 per cent).
The animals slaughtering index rose by 1.4 per cent over the comparative period in 2009, as higher prices were registered for poultry (+4.6 per cent), and rabbits (+1.9 per cent). On the other hand, the animal products index registered a decrease of 10.6 per cent on account of lower producer prices fetched for raw milk (-15.3 per cent). This decline was mitigated by an increase in egg prices (+4.2 per cent).
Input Price Index
The input price index for agriculture rose by 1.6 per cent from 120.22 in the second quarter last year to 122.11 in the comparable quarter this year.
The goods and services index, which registers movements in running costs, regisered an increase of 1.9 per cent over the comparative period last year. This increase was attributed to higher prices of motor fuels (+10.59 per cent) and maintenance of buildings (+5.7 per cent).
On the other hand, the machinery and investment index declined by 2.6 per cent on account of lower prices paid for materials (-5.62 per cent), although the buildings index edged up by 0.8 per cent over the same period last year.
