Brussels, 06/08/2001 (Agence Europe) - According to Eurostat, industrial producer prices in June remained stable compared to May in the euro zone and in the Europe of Fifteen. The increased by 0.2% in May in the euro zone and the EU15. Compared to last May, developments in the different sectors were similar in both the euro zone and the EU15. The index for capital goods and durable consumer goods gained 0.1%, non-durable consumer goods remained unchanged, those of energy fell by 0.1% in the euro zone but increased by 0.1% in the EU15. In particular, we note price falls in Italy of 0.2%, and 0.1% in France, Luxembourg and Finland, and an increase in Ireland, Sweden and Germany (+0.1%) and especially Portugal (+0.9%).
Compared to June 2000 industrial producer prices increased, in June 2001, by 3.3% in the euro zone and 2.9% in the EU15, thus confirming the slowdown in price rises observed since October 2000. The United Kingdom (.0%), Luxembourg (1.2%), France and Italy (both 2.3%), as well as Spain, Finland and Sweden (2.4% each) recorded increases below the EU average, contrary to Ireland (3.3%), Germany and Portugal (both 4.3%).