Brussels, 05/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - According to Eurostat, eurozone industrial producer prices fell by 0.3% in December 2001 compared with the previous month. IN the European Union (EU15), industrial producer prices fell by 0.2% in December.
In December, compared with November, changes in the different sectors were similar in the eurozone and the EU15. Energy prices fell by 1.1% in the eurozone and by 1.0% in the EU15. In both areas, the indices for intermediate goods decreased by 0.2%, while capital goods, durable and non-durable consumer goods increased by 0.1%. In December 2001, prices fell or were stable in all Member States except in Sweden (0.3%) and Luxembourg (0.1%). The price index remained unchanged in Ireland, Finland the UK. The strongest fall was registered in Portugal (-2.7%).
In annual terms (December 2001 compared with December 2000) industrial producer prices fell by 1.1% in both areas, due to a drop in energya and intermediate goods prices. Energy prices fell by 7.8% I the eurozone and 8.4% in the EU15. Intermediate goods decreased by 1.3% in the eurozone and by 1.1% in the EU15. Capital goods increased by 1.2% in the eurozone and 1.0% in the EU15, while durable goods rose by 1.8% and 1.5% respectively. Non-durable consumer goods increased by 2.1% in both areas. The annual rates fell in all Member States except Sweden (3.4%), Luxembourg (0.8%), Ireland (0.5%) and Germany (0.1%). The strongest annual falls were reported in Portugal (-9.4%), the Netherlands (-2.6%) and the United Kingdom (-1.7%).