Brussels, 07/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - In March 2008 compared with February 2008, the industrial producer price index1 rose by 0.7% in the euro area (EA15) and by 0.6% in the EU272. In February prices increased by 0.7% in both zones. In March 2008 compared with March 2007, industrial producer prices gained 5.7% in the euro area and 6.7% in the EU27. In March 2008, compared with the previous month, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector rose by 0.3% in both the euro area and the EU27. Prices in the energy sector increased by 1.8% and 1.5% respectively. The highest increases were registered in Bulgaria (+2.7%), Romania (+1.6%) and Luxembourg (+1.3%). The only decreases were recorded in Denmark (-0.2%) and Sweden (-0.1%). In annual terms, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector increased by 3.7% in the euro area and by 3.9% in the EU27. Prices in the energy sector rose by 12.7% and 15.2% respectively. The highest March 2007-08 increases were observed in Lithuania (+17.6%), Bulgaria (+15.4%) and Romania (+14.5%), and the lowest in Germany (+4.2%), Finland (+4.7%) and Ireland (+5.0%).