During the first quarter this year, producer and input prices for agricultural output went up by 1.2 and 6.9 per cent respectively.

In the first quarter this year, the producer price index for agricultural products stood at 125.05 points, an increase of 1.45 points (+1.2 per cent) when compared to the corresponding quarter last year.

Producer prices for fresh vegetables decreased by 20.3 per cent, resulting from an overall increase in the supply of fresh vegetables on the market. Lower producer prices were recorded for cauliflowers (-66.0 per cent), onions (-30.6 per cent) and vegetable marrows (-48.1 per cent). Producer prices for fresh vegetables were partially mitigated by a rise in prices of green beans and mushrooms, by 27.7 and 49.0 per cent respectively.

During the period under review, the fruit price index advanced by 27.7 per cent. This was due to a decrease in citrus fruit production, mainly oranges, the price of which rose by 51.3 per cent over the comparative period in 2012.

The animal slaughtering index rose by 9.7 per cent over the first quarter last year, as higher prices were registered for pigs (+26.1 per cent), poultry (+7.1 per cent) and rabbits (+2.5 per cent). Furthermore, the animal products index went up by 15.2 per cent on account of higher producer prices fetched for eggs (+16.0 per cent) and milk (+15.0 per cent).

The input price index for agriculture increased by 6.9 per cent, from 110.35 points in the first quarter of 2012 to 117.93 this year, mainly due to higher feeding stuffs.

The goods and services index went up by 8.4 per cent on account of higher prices paid for animal feeding stuffs (+16.4 per cent) and motor fuels (+2.3 per cent).

Additionally, the machinery and investment index edged up by 0.7 per cent. This increase was attributed to higher prices of materials (+1.8 per cent) and buildings (+0.1 per cent).

Permalink: Producer price index for agricultural products up 1.2% in Q1