Brussels, 17/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - In January 2009, the industrial producer price index fell by 0.8% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU27, compared with December 2008 when prices decreased by 1.5% and 1.7% respectively. In January 2009 compared with January 2008, industrial producer prices dropped by 0.5% in the euro area but rose by 0.2% in the EU27, says a Eurostat press release issued on Thursday 12 March.
Compared with December 2008, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector fell by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU27. Prices in the energy sector decreased by 1.5% and 0.8% respectively. Durable consumer goods gained 0.2% in the euro area and 0.3% in the EU27, while non-durable consumer goods dropped by 0.6% and by 0.4%. Capital goods rose by 0.1% and 0.2% respectively. Intermediate goods declined by 1.2% and 1.0% respectively. Among member states for which data are available, the highest increases in the total index were registered in the Czech Republic and Romania (both 1.1%) and Hungary (0.9%). The largest falls were in France (2.0%), Bulgaria (1.3%) and Germany (1.1%).
In January 2009, compared with January 2008, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector increased by 0.1% in the euro area and by 1.0% in the EU27. Prices in the energy sector fell by 2.7% and 2.0% respectively. Durable consumer goods rose by 1.7% and 2.2% respectively. Non-durable consumer goods decreased by 0.1% in the euro area but increased by 1.1% in the EU27. Capital goods gained 2.0% in the euro area and 2.6% in the EU27. Intermediate goods declined by 0.9% in the euro area but remained unchanged in the EU27. Among member states, the highest increases in the total index were observed in Romania (6.4%), Hungary (4.4%) and the United Kingdom (3.2%). The largest falls were observed in Denmark (5.2%), Greece (3.4%) and France (2.9%). (A.B./transl.rt)