The producer price index for agricultural products increased by 11.8 per cent, from 107.05 points in the first quarter of 2010 to 119.66 points in the corresponding quarter this year.

An increase of 32.6 per cent was registered in the fresh vegetables price index, resulting from a general decrease in the supply of fresh vegetables. As a result, higher producer prices were recorded for tomatoes (+146.9 per cent), cauliflowers (+112.1 per cent), and vegetable marrows (+21.8 per cent) During the first quarter of 2011, the fruit price index dropped by 31.9 per cent. This was mainly attributable to an increase in citrus fruit production, mainly oranges, the price of which dipped by 43.2 per cent over the comparative period in 2010.

The animal slaughtering index rose by 2.9 per cent over the first quarter of 2010, as higher prices were registered for cows (+17.1 per cent), poultry (+4.0 per cent) and rabbits (+3.3 per cent). Furthermore, the animal products index increased by 8.2 per cent on account of higher producer prices fetched for raw milk (+12.1 per cent), while egg prices edged down by 0.5 per cent.

In the first quarter of 2011, the input price index for agriculture registered an increase of 11.7 per cent to stand at 135.54 points. The goods and services index, which makes up 91.7 per cent of the input price index, advanced by 12.6 per cent over the comparative period, on account of higher prices paid for motor fuels (+24.2 per cent) and animal feeding stuffs (+20.4 per cent). A decline of 2.1 per cent was registered in the prices of other goods and services.

Furthermore, the machinery and investment index edged up by 1.3 per cent on account of higher prices paid for buildings (+2.6 per cent), although the materials index remained at the same levels of the corresponding quarter last year.

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