Brussels, 04/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - In September 2009, the industrial producer price index fell by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU27 compared with August 2009 when prices increased by 0.5% in both zones. Compared with September 2008, industrial producer prices dropped by 7.7% in the euro area and by 7.3% in the EU27, Eurostat revealed on Wednesday 4 November.
In September 2009, compared with the previous month, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector remained stable in the EU. Prices in the energy sector fell by 1.9% and 2.6% respectively. In both zones, durable consumer goods and non-durable consumer goods decreased by 0.1%, while intermediate goods increased by 0.2%. Capital goods declined by 0.1% in the euro area, but remained stable in the EU27. The highest increases in the total index were recorded in Bulgaria (1.2%), Estonia (0.4%), Cyprus and Slovenia (both 0.3%). The largest decreases were observed in Greece, Finland and the United Kingdom (all 0.8%) and Lithuania (0.7%).
Compared with September 2008, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector decreased by 4.3% in the euro area and by 3.4% in the EU27. Prices in the energy sector fell by 17.6% and 16.8% respectively. Intermediate goods declined by 7.3% in the euro area and by 6.5% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods dropped by 3.2% and 2.2% respectively. Capital goods fell by 0.5% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods gained 0.7% and 1.2% respectively. The largest year-on-year falls in the total index were in the Netherlands (13.4%), Lithuania (12.1%) and Denmark (11.3%), and the lowest in Romania (0.1%), Hungary (1.2%) and Slovenia (1.6%). The only increase was registered in Malta (0.7%). (A.B./transl.rt)