During the second quarter, producer prices for agricultural output and input prices declined by 10.2 and 3.3 per cent respectively when compared to the corresponding period last year.

The producer price index for agricultural products in the second quarter stood at 100.96 points, down by 10.2 per cent from 112.47 points in the corresponding quarter of 2013.

Underpinning this result was a decrease of 23.4 per cent in the fresh vegetables price index, mainly due to lower producer prices recorded for onions (-49.2 per cent), sugar melons (-48.3 per cent) and mushrooms (-7.1 per cent).

On the other hand, producer prices of tomatoes and cauliflowers went up by 26.8 and 4.3 per cent respectively.

During the period under review, the fruit price index declined by 14.2 per cent, resulting from a general increase in the supply of fresh fruit. Lower producer prices were registered for all species, mainly peaches (-29.2 per cent) and strawberries (-10.8 per cent).

The animals slaughtering index went down by 2.7 per cent over the comparative period in 2013, as lower prices were fetched for bulls (-14.9 per cent), poultry (-6.8 per cent) and rabbits (-1.3 per cent).

Furthermore, the animal products index declined by 12.2 per cent on account of lower producer prices received for milk (-13.4 per cent) and eggs (-9.2 per cent).

The input price index for agriculture went down by 3.3 per cent to 113.58 points.

The goods and services index, which records movements in running costs, decreased by 4.3 per cent over the comparative period last year. This was mainly attributed to lower prices of animal feeding stuffs (-8.2 per cent) and motor fuels (-2.3 per cent). In contrast, prices for maintenance of materials increased by 1.3 per cent.

The machinery and investment index increased by 1.2 per cent, on account of higher prices paid for buildings (+1.6 per cent) and materials (+0.5 per cent).

Photograph: Alain Salvary

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