A FALL in manufacturing output prices last month has eased fears of the emergence of inflationary pressures in the economy.

Official figures issued by the Central Statistics Office yesterday, report a 0.2 of a percentage point drop in manufacturing prices in December following a rise of 0.4 per cent in the previous month. In the 12 months to the end of December, the CSO index indicates an overall rise of 3.6 per cent in manufacturing prices.

The largest price changes in the month were recorded by the plastics industry, with output prices estimated to have fallen by 1.7 per cent on November levels. Grain milling, animal and poultry food prices rose by 1.2 per cent on the month.