Producer price index, 15 January 2003

Prices of refined petroleum products went up 8.5 per cent from December 2002 to January 2003. According to the London Spot Market's - prices of unleaded gasoline and heavy fuel went up 8.8 and 27.5 per cent respectively. Chemical products went up nearly 1 per cent. Prices of wood and wood products and food products counteracted this rise with a 2.6 and 0.8 decrease respectively.

According to the main industrial groupings prices of consumer goods decreased by 0.7 per cent, while energy goods increased by 6.8 per cent.

In the domestic market manufacturing prices showed a 0.1 per cent increase. This development was mainly due to a more moderate increase in refined oil on the domestic market. Prices of food products decreased by 0.9 per cent, while electrical and optical equipments decreased by 1.5 per cent.

12-month rate, January 2002 - January 2003

Manufacturing prices increased by 0.2 per cent compared with January 2002. This development was mainly due to an increase of 22.4 per cent in refined petroleum products, but a decrease of 10.5 per cent in basic metals counteracted the price rise of refined petroleum products. Prices of food products and pulp, paper and paper products also showed a decline.

According to the main industrial groupings prices of energy goods increased by 25.9 per cent, while intermediate goods decreased by 3.6 per cent.