EU industrial producer price index up 0.6 per cent

The industrial producer price index in both the 25 EU member countries and the eurozone increased by 0.6 per cent between April and May.

Statistics issued by Eurostat showed that in May prices in the total industry, excluding the energy sector, increased by 0.1 in the eurozone and by 0.2 per cent in the 25 member countries when compared to the same period last year. The statistics office said energy prices went up by 2.3 per cent in the eurozone and 2.1 per cent in the EU25, while in both zones intermediate goods increased by 0.4 per cent and durable consumer goods by 0.1 per cent. Non-durable goods remained stable, while capital goods increased by 0.1 per cent in the eurozone and 0.2 per cent in the EU25.

Eurostat said that among the countries for which data was available, the highest increases were registered in Cyprus, Lithuania and Hungary, with the only decrease registered in Sweden. When compared to May last year, industrial prices, excluding the energy sector, increased by 1.6 per cent in the eurozone and by 1.7 per cent in the EU25.

Prices in the energy sector increased by 5.5 per cent in the eurozone and 6.1 per cent in the EU25. Intermediate goods increased by 2.8 per cent in the eurozone and three per cent in the EU25, while non-durable consumer goods increased by 1.6 per cent in both zones.

The statistics office said capital goods increased by 0.6 per cent in the eurozone and by 0.7 per cent in the EU25 while the durable consumer goods increased by 0.6 per cent and 0.5 per cent respectively.

The highest increases were registered in Hungary, Latvia and Cyprus, while the lowest were registered in Finland, Ireland and Germany.

Statistics were not available for every country among them Malta.