Price index of first-hand domestic sales, 15 November 2008

The price index of first-hand domestic sales decreased by 1.9 per cent from October to November 2008. The most important contribution to this decrease was a decline in prices of electricity, petroleum and petroleum products, crude materials (inedible, except fuels) and non-ferrous metals.

Prices of petroleum and petroleum products fell 12.6 per cent from October to November, a decline that is somewhat stronger than from September to October (down 11.5 per cent). Electricity prices fell by 6.7 per cent, which is less than the fall from September to October (down 11.9 per cent).

There was a decline in prices of non-ferrous metals (down 10.3 per cent) from October to November 2008. Iron and steel prices have increased from January to October this year, but experienced a slight decrease from October to November (down 0.2 per cent).

Prices of crude materials (inedible, except fuels) fell 6.3 per cent. The most important contribution to this decline was metalliferous ores and metal scrap. Prices of both non-ferrous metals and crude materials (inedible, except fuels) fell more from October to November 2008 than from September to October 2008.

Prices of machinery and transport equipment as well as miscellaneous manufactured articles rose by 0.9 and 1.1 per cent, respectively.

Twelve month change: Price rise of 5.1 per cent

The twelve month growth in the price index of first-hand domestic sales for November 2008 was 5.1 per cent, down from 10.5 per cent in October.

Prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials rose with 1 per cent from November 2007 to November 2008. The twelve month change in prices for this group in October 2008 was 29.4 per cent.

Prices of crude materials (inedible, except fuels) fell 7.6 per cent from November 2007 to November 2008. For crude materials it was the prices of metalliferous ores and metal scrap as well as wood, lumber and cork that gave a fall in prices from November 2007 to November 2008.