Producer price index, 15 December 2002

Prices of refined petroleum products went up 5.6 per cent from November to December 2002. According to the London Spot Market's prices of unleaded gasoline and heavy fuel went up 6.1 and 1.9 per cent respectively. Chemicals and chemical products showed a 2.2 per cent increase. Prices of food products and basic metals counteracted this rise with a 0.3 and 1 per cent decrease respectively.

According to the main industrial groupings prices of intermediate and consumer goods in December showed only a few changes since the previous month. Energy goods increased by 12 per cent. This development was mainly due to higher prices of oil and electricity.

In the domestic market manufacturing prices showed nearly no change. This development was mainly due to a more moderate increase in refined oil on the domestic market than in the export market. Lower prices of basic metals counteracted this increase.

12-month rate, December 2001-December 2002

Manufacturing prices showed nearly no change compared with December 2001. The development was mainly due to an increase of 12.6 per cent in refined petroleum, but a decrease of 10 per cent in basic metals counteracted the price rise of refined petroleum products. Prices of food products as well as of pulp, paper and paper products declined as well.

According to the main industrial groupings prices of energy goods increased by 21.7 per cent, while intermediate goods decreased by 2.8 per cent.