Industrial producer prices slightly down in Nov in Europe

According to Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, in November 2012 industrial producer prices decreased by 0.2 percent both in the euro area and in the European Union member states (EU-27) month on month. In October last year, prices had increased by 0.1 percent compared to the previous month in both zones. In November, industrial producer prices gained 2.1 percent in the euro area and 1.9 percent in the EU-27 compared to November 2011.
 
In November 2012 compared with the previous month, prices in overall industry excluding the energy sector decreased by 0.1 in the euro area and remained stable in the EU-27, while the prices in the energy sector fell by 0.7 percent in the euro area and by 1.1 percent in the EU-27. In November, in both zones prices of capital goods rose by 0.1 percent and prices of intermediate goods fell 0.2 percent, while prices of consumer goods increased by 0.1 percent in the euro area and remained stable in the EU-27.
 
Among the member states for which data are available, the largest month-on-month increases were recorded in Denmark (with +0.87 percent), in Belgium (+0.6 percent) and in Ireland (+0.4 percent), while the largest decreases were recorded in Greece (-0.9 percent) and in Lithuania, Hungary and Portugal (all -0.6 percent).
 
In November 2012 as compared to November 2011, prices in overall industry excluding the energy sector increased by 1.5 percent in both the euro area and the EU-27. Prices in the energy sector rose by 4.1 percent and 2.9 percent respectively. Intermediate goods rose by 1.4 percent in the euro area and by 1.2 percent in the EU-27. Durable consumer goods gained 1.1 percent in both zones. Capital goods increased by one percent in the euro area and by 0.9 percent in the EU-27.
 
Among member states for which data are available, the largest year-on-year increases in the overall index were observed in Bulgaria (+6.4 percent), in Cyprus (+5.6 percent) and in Belgium and Romania (both +5.3 percent), and and the smallest in Austria (+0.3%), Hungary (+0.6%), Malta (+0.9%) and the United Kingdom (+1.1%). The only decrease was recorded in Sweden (-1.6%).