The cost of raw materials for manufacturing rose by 3.5 per cent in 2005, according to the latest wholesale price index published today by the Central Statistics Office.
Contributing to the annual rise in "factory gate" prices were increases in the cost of basic chemicals, which rose 5 per cent, and other food products, which rose by 7.6 per cent.
The index also shows that the cost of office machinery and computers fell by 3.2 per cent in 2005.
Building materials prices increased by 2.6 per cent in 2005, while the price of energy products increased by 8.8 per cent as oil prices remained persistently high over the year.