Higher energy prices

Published:

The previous fall in the producer price index for oil and gas, manufacturing, mining and electricity (PPI) was six months ago. Despite a lower price of crude oil in the global market, prices on Norwegian energy goods increased which caused the total PPI to increase in August.

In line with other records reached during summer 2018, the Producer Price Index (PPI) reached its highest level in August since the start of the index series in the year 2000. This follows record high index levels also in June and July. The PPI previously reached similar high levels in January 2014, before the marked drop in the price of crude oil that affected the global economy in the following years.

Weaker NOK gave higher oil price

Following two months of moderate fall in the price of crude oil, the oil price measured in NOK increased about 0.9 per cent from July to August despite the general drop in the price in the global market during this period. During recent months, NOK has weakened against USD, and from July to August the change in the exchange rate contributed to a rise in the price of crude oil. This price increase is thus not reflected in the global market where crude oil is priced in USD.

The price of natural gas measured in USD increased marginally from July to August. Measured in NOK the increase was more pronounced because of the change in the exchange rate.

Market price increase on energy goods

Because of their importance in the Norwegian economy prices on crude oil, natural gas, electricity and refined petroleum products are often important for the development in the PPI, which was also the case in August 2018. Despite lower prices in several important manufacturing products such as food products and basic metals, higher prices on energy goods caused the overall growth in the PPI. The PPI is nearly 23 per cent higher in August 2018 compared to twelve months earlier, which is due to the substantial increase in prices of crude energy goods, refined petroleum products and electricity. All these groups experienced price growth between 44 and 66 per cent over the previous twelve months.

Figure 1. Price indices. 2000=100

PPI total PPI excluding energy goods Energy goods
Des. 1999 92.11 97.15 84.97
Jan. 20012000 92.57 97.48 85.61
Feb. 2000 95.78 98.4 92.07
Mar. 2000 96.84 98.79 94.08
Apr. 2000 91.86 98.88 81.91
May 2000 99.29 100.02 98.25
Jun. 2000 100.34 100.27 100.44
Jul. 2000 99.48 100.24 98.4
Aug. 2000 101.87 100.69 103.53
Sept. 2000 107.6 101.03 116.91
Oct. 2000 107.15 101.47 115.2
Nov. 2000 108.01 101.37 117.42
Dec. 2000 99.23 101.38 96.19
Jan. 2001 95.43 101.53 88.95
Feb. 2001 99.68 102.23 96.27
Mar. 2001 97.82 102.32 92.72
Apr. 2001 99.59 102.6 95.78
May 2001 104.35 102.88 104.43
Jun. 2001 104.65 102.85 105.03
Jul. 2001 98.25 102.05 93.76
Aug. 2001 99.49 101.31 96.74
Sept. 2001 99.09 101.29 96.01
Oct. 2001 90.96 101.02 81.04
Nov. 2001 87.87 100.74 75.52
Dec. 2001 87.56 100.43 75.2
Jan. 2002 89.27 101.05 77.65
Feb. 2002 90.82 100.8 80.45
Mar. 2002 95.81 100.82 88.86
Apr. 2002 97.69 100.72 92.12
May 2002 96.34 100.26 90.17
Jun. 2002 91.67 99.81 82.6
Jul. 2002 91.36 99.24 82.5
Aug. 2002 93.83 98.78 86.99
Sept. 2002 96.7 98.85 91.79
Oct. 2002 95.65 98.25 90.46
Nov. 2002 90.61 98.54 81.72
Dec. 2002 96.4 98.59 91.48
Jan. 2003 99.89 98.21 98.33
Feb. 2003 101.49 98.67 100.9
Mar. 2003 100.19 99.25 97.96
Apr. 2003 92.69 99.59 83.68
May 2003 91.99 99.51 82.44
Jun. 2003 94.4 100.04 86.45
Jul. 2003 97.39 100.39 91.71
Aug. 2003 99.72 100.39 96.07
Sept. 2003 96.51 100.65 89.83
Oct. 2003 97.92 101 92.15
Nov. 2003 97.65 101.62 91.11
Dec. 2003 96.94 101.79 89.63
Jan. 2004 99.31 102.28 93.46
Feb. 2004 100.2 103.55 94
Mar. 2004 103.88 103.98 100.23
Apr. 2004 104.17 104.61 100.23
May 2004 109.5 104.95 109.48
Jun. 2004 105.8 104.97 102.84
Jul. 2004 110.81 105.53 111.33
Aug. 2004 115.92 105.78 120.27
Sept. 2004 115.76 106.25 119.59
Oct. 2004 121.5 106.66 129.51
Nov. 2004 110.55 106.18 110.34
Dec. 2004 106.44 105.75 103.33
Jan. 2005 111.24 106.45 111.53
Feb. 2005 114.82 107.78 116.93
Mar. 2005 122.04 107.58 130.29
Apr. 2005 122.38 107.88 130.65
May 2005 119.19 107.6 125.07
Jun. 2005 126.05 107.42 137.77
Jul. 2005 131.96 107.33 148.66
Aug. 2005 138.71 107.86 160.55
Sept. 2005 136.53 107.49 156.87
Oct. 2005 133.51 108.14 150.8
Nov. 2005 130.27 108.72 144.36
Dec. 2005 132.47 109.81 147.45
Jan. 2006 139.45 110.87 159.83
Feb. 2006 138.77 112.38 157.05
Mar. 2006 140.4 112.19 160.37
Apr. 2006 147.4 113.49 172.55
May 2006 142.59 114.91 161.92
Jun. 2006 142.59 114 162.8
Jul. 2006 149.65 115.83 174.59
Aug. 2006 150.68 116.51 175.91
Sept. 2006 143.27 117.24 160.96
Oct. 2006 141.39 118.43 156.19
Nov. 2006 139.09 118.54 151.64
Dec. 2006 138.84 118.3 151.42
Jan. 2007 132.87 119.77 139.47
Feb. 2007 134.85 121.07 141.94
Mar. 2007 137.33 121.72 145.86
Apr. 2007 139.68 122.2 149.69
May 2007 140.51 122.63 150.81
Jun. 2007 143.23 122.32 155.98
Jul. 2007 143.77 121.37 157.72
Aug. 2007 139.89 121.75 150.44
Sept. 2007 143.14 121.53 156.47
Oct. 2007 146.07 120.9 162.25
Nov. 2007 155.96 120.95 179.97
Dec. 2007 156.21 121.24 180.17
Jan. 2008 160.06 121.57 187.42
Feb. 2008 162.26 123.55 189.65
Mar. 2008 162.9 124.51 189.91
Apr. 2008 169.5 124.74 202.66
May 2008 177.1 124.79 217.57
Jun. 2008 185.55 124.49 234.53
Jul. 2008 189.79 125.35 241.98
Aug. 2008 187.28 126.13 236.22
Sept. 2008 186.4 127.3 233.26
Oct. 2008 184.09 127.65 228.34
Nov. 2008 174.58 127.87 209.38
Dec. 2008 165.57 127.78 191.75
Jan. 2009 166.36 127.51 193.44
Feb. 2009 162.59 127.16 186.74
Mar. 2009 162.38 126.56 186.91
Apr. 2009 161.51 125.87 185.92
May 2009 172.01 126.07 205.29
Jun. 2009 186.97 126.48 232.8
Jul. 2009 176.41 127.51 212.18
Aug. 2009 185.12 128.48 227.52
Sept. 2009 173.98 128.35 206.88
Oct. 2009 176.6 127.74 212.32
Nov.2009 182.87 127.71 224.02
Dec. 2009 182.15 128.27 222.18
Jan. 2010 189.31 128.17 238.5
Feb. 2010 193.22 129.14 245.89
Mar. 2010 197.75 129.75 255.24
Apr. 2010 204.71 130.41 269.98
May 2010 203.73 131.34 266.42
Jun. 2010 208.27 131.29 276.73
Jul. 2010 208.32 132.01 275.79
Aug. 2010 209.01 132.3 276.91
Sept. 2010 208.32 132.85 274.55
Oct. 2010 208.41 132.94 274.6
Nov.2010 215.71 133.72 289.94
Dec. 2010 225.7 135.07 310.52
Jan. 2011 231.3 136.07 322.86
Feb. 2011 234.07 137.57 326.99
Mar. 2011 239.99 137.79 341.67
Apr. 2011 245.64 137.94 355.8
May 2011 240.37 138.34 341.57
Jun. 2011 238.15 137.68 337.21
Jul. 2011 241.9 137.59 346.96
Aug. 2011 235.8 137.08 332.36
Sept. 2011 240.07 136.82 343.8
Oct. 2011 240.3 136.96 344.1
Nov.2011 243.57 136.52 353.33
Dec. 2011 244.13 136.43 354.94
Jan. 2012 249.5 136.51 369.17
Feb. 2012 252 136.87 375.08
Mar. 2012 255.75 137.48 383.84
Apr. 2012 251.7 137.42 373.08
May 2012 246.3 137.53 358.35
Jun. 2012 237.76 138.01 334.33
Jul. 2012 240.54 137.98 341.87
Aug. 2012 246.14 136.76 359.6
Sept. 2012 243.46 137.02 351.83
Oct. 2012 244.38 136.5 355.46
Nov.2012 243.55 136.29 353.68
Dec. 2012 243.48 136.11 353.88
Jan. 2013 243.56 136.13 354.05
Feb. 2013 244.91 136.13 357.65
Mar. 2013 247.11 137.28 361.02
Apr. 2013 247.73 137.18 362.88
May 2013 242.24 137.42 347.78
Jun. 2013 241.92 137.03 347.75
Jul. 2013 247.79 137.91 361.47
Aug. 2013 250.22 139.11 365.33
Sept. 2013 251.38 138.86 368.96
Oct. 2013 249.94 139.62 363.49
Nov.2013 251.27 139.81 366.63
Dec. 2013 255.29 140.31 376.23
Jan. 2014 256.36 141.68 376.09
Feb. 2014 254.6 141.8 371.08
Mar. 2014 247.3 141.71 351.6
Apr. 2014 246.08 142.09 347.48
May 2014 243.9 142.2 341.36
Jun. 2014 244.91 142.17 344.17
Jul. 2014 243.61 143.45 337.81
Aug. 2014 241.92 144.19 331.63
Sept. 2014 241.89 144.59 330.65
Oct. 2014 241.41 144.96 328.54
Nov.2014 234.73 145.83 308.62
Dec. 2014 235.25 147.3 306.75
Jan. 2015 224.53 148.99 276.22
Feb. 2015 229.31 149.16 288.01
Mar. 2015 232.33 148.72 296.54
Apr. 2015 232.38 148.22 297.65
May 2015 232.24 147.64 298.47
Jun. 2015 232.93 147.71 300.06
Jul. 2015 227.57 148.05 285.8
Aug. 2015 217.8 148.24 260.61
Sept. 2015 217.39 148.19 259.67
Oct. 2015 218.64 148.13 262.97
Nov.2015 219.57 149.37 262.88
Dec. 2015 209.75 149.35 238.01
Jan. 2016 200.39 148.95 215.52
Feb. 2016 195.13 149.1 202.18
Mars.2016 197.58 149.09 208.29
Apr. 2016 199.09 148.92 212.35
May 2016 204.54 149.13 225.48
Jun. 2016 210.32 148.93 240.22
Jul. 2016 211.18 149.15 241.94
Aug. 2016 207.47 149.21 232.61
Sept. 2016 204.22 147.81 227.19
Oct. 2016 208.75 146.75 240.45
Nov.2016 213.99 146.76 253.44
Dec. 2016 224.98 147.38 279.56
Jan. 2017 225.7 147.68 280.89
Feb. 2017 231.83 149.19 294.9
Mar. 2017 229.43 149.22 287.8
Apr. 2017 224.64 150.03 271.68
May 2017 222.79 150.63 264.7
Jun. 2017 217.11 149.94 249.9
Jul. 2017 214.9 150.09 243.34
Aug. 2017 215.82 149.82 246.77
Sept. 2017 222 149.32 266.12
Oct. 2017 227.48 148.75 283.63
Nov.2017 234.84 150.37 300.94
Dec. 2017 241.54 149.99 321.56
Jan. 2018 249.08 152.34 337.41
Feb. 2018 242.74 153.06 317.21
Mar. 2018 243.98 152.52 322.19
Apr. 2018 252.04 152.6 345.38
May 2018 255.04 153.65 351.4
Jun. 2018 260.64 153.83 367.17
Jul. 2018 263.42 153.94 375.4
Aug. 2018 264.86 154.19 378.92

Lower prices of basic metals, high index value

Norway is the largest producer of primary aluminium, and the price of aluminium is therefore important to the economy of several Norwegian manufacturing enterprises. Production of basic metals is in general an important industry in Norway, and within this industry aluminium is the most important. In July and August prices of basic metals fell somewhat, and thus reduced the overall growth in the PPI. Lower prices on non-ferrous metals, including aluminium, contributed a lot to this decrease. However, as shown in figure 2, the reduction in prices comes from a quite high index level and despite the drop in prices in August, prices on basic metals are still higher compared to the previous years.

Figure 2. Price indices. 2010=100

Metal industry Non-ferrous metals
Jan. 2010 89.58 88.68
Feb. 2010 91.81 91.9
Mar. 2010 94.74 95.32
Apr. 2010 100.36 102.12
May 2010 103.18 104.33
Jun. 2010 100.27 100.27
Jul. 2010 99.2 98.02
Aug. 2010 100.35 99.13
Sept. 2010 102.64 102.37
Oct. 2010 104.57 104.13
Nov.2010 105.62 105.86
Dec. 2010 107.68 107.88
Jan. 2011 110.29 111.02
Feb. 2011 113.8 114.81
Mar. 2011 112.21 113.82
Apr. 2011 111.46 112.54
May 2011 109.76 110.64
Jun. 2011 106.86 107.61
Jul. 2011 107.02 107.95
Aug. 2011 105.08 105.98
Sept. 2011 102.52 103.22
Oct. 2011 101.48 101.81
Nov.2011 97.83 97.94
Dec. 2011 96.58 96.33
Jan. 2012 97.78 98.34
Feb. 2012 98.08 100.4
Mar. 2012 98.69 99.13
Apr. 2012 97.3 97.27
May 2012 97.24 95.71
Jun. 2012 97.62 95.13
Jul. 2012 96.29 93.7
Aug. 2012 93.69 90.88
Sept. 2012 93.56 91.25
Oct. 2012 94.51 92.75
Nov.2012 93.13 91.09
Dec. 2012 92.95 91.7
Jan. 2013 93.62 92.92
Feb. 2013 92.86 92.53
Mar. 2013 93.65 92.97
Apr. 2013 91.53 90.27
May 2013 90.38 88.78
Jun. 2013 89.43 87.45
Jul. 2013 90.1 88.38
Aug. 2013 89.85 88.13
Sept. 2013 89.42 87.63
Oct. 2013 89.68 87.89
Nov.2013 89.95 88.04
Dec. 2013 90.43 88.55
Jan. 2014 91.06 89.09
Feb. 2014 91.81 89.4
Mar. 2014 91.67 89.02
Apr. 2014 93.92 91.36
May 2014 94.74 92.88
Jun. 2014 97.84 96.63
Jul. 2014 100.84 100.68
Aug. 2014 101.45 101.5
Sept. 2014 103.96 104.48
Oct. 2014 104.1 104.74
Nov.2014 106.67 107.55
Dec. 2014 110.76 112.73
Jan. 2015 114.48 116.17
Feb. 2015 113.48 114.03
Mar. 2015 116.18 118.09
Apr. 2015 112.97 114.09
May 2015 111.36 112.04
Jun. 2015 110.94 111.64
Jul. 2015 108.53 108.24
Aug. 2015 105.46 103.5
Sept. 2015 104.81 102.16
Oct. 2015 104.33 101.58
Nov.2015 103.62 101.18
Dec. 2015 101.47 98.27
Jan. 2016 100.15 98.08
Feb. 2016 98.86 97.62
Mars.2016 98.53 97.51
Apr. 2016 97.22 96.57
May 2016 97.74 96.37
Jun. 2016 97.79 96.2
Jul. 2016 101.71 101.24
Aug. 2016 105.17 104.52
Sept. 2016 103.58 102.19
Oct. 2016 102.07 100.1
Nov.2016 104.61 103.66
Dec. 2016 107.58 108.16
Jan. 2017 109.9 110.36
Feb. 2017 114.8 110.17
Mar. 2017 117.37 114.44
Apr. 2017 120.41 116.66
May 2017 121.12 116.7
Jun. 2017 119.87 114.27
Jul. 2017 119.91 114.82
Aug. 2017 120.16 114.66
Sept. 2017 122.04 117.73
Oct. 2017 120.14 116.55
Nov.2017 127.08 125.86
Dec. 2017 128.59 127.11
Jan. 2018 129.17 127.9
Feb. 2018 133.22 129.87
Mar. 2018 132.74 129.44
Apr. 2018 132.8 127.95
May 2018 136.31 132.46
Jun. 2018 138.87 135.74
Jul. 2018 136.08 133.23
Aug. 2018 133.73 130.14

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