Price index of first-hand domestic sales, 15 July 2009

The price index of first-hand domestic sales declined by 0.7 per cent from June to July 2009. A 6.9 per cent fall in electricity prices and 6 per cent lower prices of petroleum and petroleum products were the main reasons for the decline.

Food prices rose by 1 per cent from June to July, mainly due to higher prices of meat and meat preparations, dairy products and eggs as well as feeding stuff for animals (not cereals). A price rise of 1.1 per cent of manufactured goods was caused by a sharp rise of 8.2 per cent in prices of non-ferrous metals.

A 1.7 per cent decline the last twelve months

There was a 1.7 per cent decline in the price index of first -hand domestic sales from July 2008 to July 2009. This was mainly caused by falling prices for the groups mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials and crude materials, inedible, except fuels.

From July 2008 to July 2009 prices of metalliferous ores and metal scrap fell by 26.4 per cent, contributing to a 12.7 per cent fall in the prices of crude materials, inedible, except fuels. Manufactured goods had 1.4 lower prices in July 2009 than in July 2008. This was mainly due to the prices within the two groups non-ferrous metals and iron and steel, which dropped 17.6 and 14.6 per cent, respectively.