Producer price index, 15 December 2005

Electricity prices went up by 7.2 per cent while metals increased by 7.3 per cent and were the major contributor to the increase in manufacturing prices. Non-ferrous metals showed the largest change by an 8.8 per cent rise while the other manufacturing prices had only minor changes.

12-month rate, December 2004 to December 2005

The producer price index has increased by 24.3 per cent for the last 12-month period. The rise in the prices of energy goods with a total increase by 42.7 per cent is the main contributor to this. Oil and gas extraction are up by 45.1 per cent. Refined petroleum products have increased by 45.6, while electricity have increased by 26.9 per cent.

For other goods the prices of non-ferrous metals showed the largest change with a 19.9 per cent rise while the other metal groups are all down in this period. The prices of food products rose by 4.5 per cent. The largest declines are recorded in prices of electrical and optical equipment, which declined by 3.7 per cent.

Among the main industrial groupings the prices of consumer goods are up by 3.2 per cent and intermediate goods are up by 4.5 per cent for the last 12 months. Investments goods are up 6.6 per cent.

Producer prices have increased by 8.5 per cent on the domestic market for the last 12 months. The rice of prices was lower here compared to the total export- and domestic market - mainly because the oil is lower weighted at the domestic market.

Commodity price index for industrial sectors

As announced previously, the articles for the Producer Price Index and the Commodity Price Index for the industrial sectors are now coordinated. The web pages for both surveys will remain the same for the time being - www.ssb.no/ppi_en and www.ssb.no/vppi_en.