Price index of first-hand domestic sales, 15 December 2006

The prices of Mineral fuels, lubricants and related material went down 5.2 per cent. The main reason for the development was fall in prices of electric current, 19.9 per cent. The drop in electricity prices was caused by heavy precipitations and mild weather. On the other hand, petroleum and petroleum products showed a moderate increase of 0.8 per cent from November to December.

Prices of food continued to fall in December month. Fruit, vegetables, sugar, meat and fish prices fell most in this grouping. The main reason for the drop in food prices was lower prices of fruit and vegetables. Crude materials fell considerably with a decrease of 3.0 per cent. The decline in crude materials stemmed mainly from the import of metalliferous ores and metal scrap.

The 12-month rate, December 2005 to December 2006: Up 3.6 per cent

The price index of first-hand domestic sales rose by 3.6 per cent from December 2005 to December 2006. All groupings showed an increase except machinery and transport equipment and miscellaneous manufactured articles. Prices of crude materials contributed most to the development with an increase of 19.8 per cent. The rise in crude materials was caused by nickel prices in the world marked. The price fall inn machinery and transport equipment was caused by lower prices in office machines and data processing machines. Since last year, prices of electricity increased by 9.5 per cent.