Price index of first-hand domestic sales, 15 October 2001

Prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials decreased by 14.3 per cent from September to October. Petroleum and petroleum products showed a rather strong price decline of 15.8 per cent, while electricity prices went down 2.7 per cent. Prices of crude materials decreased by 5.7 per cent. With a price decrease of 17.8 per cent metalliferous ores contributed the most to the groups decline.

The 12-month rate, October 2000 - October 2001

Overall prices are now 7 per cent down compared with prices last October. The main reason for this decline was lower prices of mineral fuels and crude materials. Prices in these groups went down about 30 and 12 per cent, respectively.

Within the group food and live animals most commodities showed a price increase making the total increase 4.8 per cent. In addition the prices of machinery and transport equipment went up 3 per cent, miscellaneous manufactured articles 2 per cent and chemicals 3.5 per cent.

Changes in the 12-month rate

After being -3.2 per cent in September overall prices are now 7 per cent lower than in the same period last year. The 12-month rate of mineral fuels went from -18.3 per cent last month to -30.3 per cent this month. Prices of crude materials went from -6 per cent to about -12 per cent. The decline in the 12-month rates of these two groups is explained by the large fall in prices from September to October this year. In addition both groups showed a minor increase in prices from September to October last year.

Miscellaneous articles, food plus beverages and tobacco were the only groups, where the 12-month rate increased from September to October. The strongest increase occurred in food prices where the 12-month rate went from 4.3 per cent in September to 4.8 per cent in October.