Brussels, 04/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - The Euro area1 industrial producer price index rose by 0.3% in May 2006 compared with the previous month and by 6.0% in the Euro area and by 6.9% in the EU25 compared to May 2005. In May 2006, compared to the previous month, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector increased by 0.4% in both the Euro area and the EU25. Prices in the energy sector remained unchanged in the Euro area, but fell by 0.6% in the EU25. Intermediate goods rose by 0.9% in the Euro area and by 0.8% in the EU25. In both zones, durable consumer goods increased by 0.2%. Non-durable consumer goods increased by 0.1% in the Euro area and by 0.2% in the EU25. In monthly terms, the highest increases were registered in Portugal (+1.0%), Slovakia (+0.8%), Spain, Italy and Finland (+0.7% each). The only decreases were recorded in Denmark (-1.6%), Sweden (-0.6%), the United Kingdom (-0.5%) and the Netherlands (-0.4%), while prices in Ireland remained unchanged.