Producer price index, 15 January 2002

Despite a decline in prices within refined petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products and other non-metallic mineral products, the overall manufacturing prices increased by 0.4 per cent. The main reason is higher prices within food products. An increase of prices in wood and wood products also contributed.

Among the main industrial groupings, prices of energy goods increased the most, 3.2 per cent. Prices of intermediate goods and capital goods rose by 0.9 and 0.6 per cent respectively, while the prices of consumer goods remained almost the same.

12-month rate, January 2001 to December 2002

The price decline in manufacturing, mining and quarrying was 3.4 per cent. The main reason was lower prices of refined petroleum products, 22.6 per cent, and basic metals, 12.7 per cent. Food products, beverages and tobacco and machinery and equipment showed the largest price increase.

Prices of electricity, gas and steam supply rose by 22.6 per cent, whereas prices of oil and gas extraction rose by 13.2 per cent. As a result of this the total index decreased by -8.2 per cent.

Increase in the 12-month rate

The overall 12-month rate went from -5 per cent in December to -3.4 per cent in January. Basic metal, refined petroleum products and food products showed the same tendency. Chemicals and chemical products went from -0.5 per cent in December to -2.4 per cent in January.