Brussels, 07/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - In February 2010, the industrial producer price index rose by 0.1% in both the euro area (EA16) and the EU27 compared with January 2010, according to figures published on Wednesday 7 March by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Eurostat says that in January of this year, prices increased by 0.7% and 0.8% respectively. In February 2010, compared with February 2009, industrial producer prices fell by 0.5% in the euro area, but rose by 0.4% in the EU27.
Compared with the previous month, prices in total industry, excluding the energy sector, increased by 0.1% in both the euro area and the EU27 in February 2010. In both zones, prices rose by 0.3% for intermediate goods, by 0.1% for energy and for durable consumer goods, and remained stable for non-durable consumer goods. Capital goods rose by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU27. The highest increases in the total index were recorded in Lithuania (1.7%), Finland (1.6%) and Sweden (1.4%), and the largest decreases in Slovakia (1.7%) and the Czech Republic (0.3%).
Annual changes. In February 2010, compared with February 2009, prices in total industry, excluding the energy sector, decreased by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27. Prices in the energy sector fell by 0.9% in the euro area, but rose by 1.7% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods dropped by 0.7% and 0.3% respectively. Capital goods declined by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27. Intermediate goods fell by 0.5% and 0.4% respectively. Durable consumer goods rose by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU27. The largest decreases in the total index were observed in Latvia (8.5%), Slovakia (7.6%), Germany and Lithuania (both 3.1%), and the highest increases in Denmark (7.2%), Greece (6.1%) and Finland (4.3%). (L.C./transl.rt)