Producer Prices Increase 0.4%

Output prices of manufactured products increased by 0.4% in the year to September compared to August when they fell by 0.3%. Prices increased over the month between August and September by 0.5%. The changes reflect increases in the prices of petroleum products of 2% and changes in duty on petroleum products which is estimated to have added 0.2% to the output index. Unleaded petrol is reported to have increased by 2.6% between August and September but decreased by 3.1% over the last year. Prices excluding excise duties fell by 0.6% over the year and increased by 0.4% on the month and excluding food, beverages, tobacco and petroleum increased by 1.4% over the year and 0.5% over the month.

Input prices for materials and fuels fell by 6.5% over the year to September and fell 0.5% over the month. It compares with a fall of 7.7% in the year to August. The manufacturing index fell 0.5% between August and September compared with 1.7% for the same time last year. The fall reflects the fall of 4.4% in the price of crude oil for the month and 24.1% over the year. Imported materials increased by 1% over the month to September offsetting the fall. The index excluding food, beverages, tobacco and petroleum fell by 1.7%.