The Euro zone industrial producer price index decreased by 0.3 per cent in November 2002 compared with October, the statistical office of the European Communities, Eurostat, reported today.
EU15 prices decreased by 0.1 per cent. This follows a rise of 0.2 per cent in October 2002 in both zones.
In November 2002 compared to November 2001, industrial producer prices rose by 1.1 per cent in the Euro zone and by 1 per cent in the EU15.
In November 2002, compared to the previous month, the decrease in total industry is mainly due to the energy sector, where prices fell by 1.6 per cent in the Euro zone and by 0.9 per cent in the EU15.
Intermediate goods and non-durable consumer goods decreased by 0.1 per cent in both zones; capital goods and durable consumer goods remained stable.
Compared with November 2001 the highest industrial producer prices, among those member States for which data are available, were in Sweden (5.2 per cent), Luxembourg (4.1 per cent), The Netherlands (3.2 per cent) and Ireland (3.1 per cent).
An annual fall was reported only in Britain (-0.2 per cent).