Factory gate prices fell by 1.5 per cent in July 2002 to bring the overall Manufacturing Output Price Index to 113.4, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office this morning.
Year on year, the figures show, the index fell by 3 per cent.
The monthly index for export sales also decreased by 1.9 per cent and the index for home sales decreased by 0.3 per cent in the month.
Contributing to the monthly change were decreases in basic chemicals (-3.8 per cent), food products (-2.6 per cent), and pharmaceuticals & other chemical products (-2.3 per cent).
Contributing to the annual change were decreases in Pharmaceuticals & other chemical products (incl. man-made fibres) (-8.7 per cent), basic chemicals (-4.5 per cent), dairy products (-4.8 per cent) and radio, television and communication equipment (-9.5 per cent).
The monthly price index for mining and quarrying decreased by 0.1 per cent.
Breaking down wholesale price changes by sector of use shows that:
- Building and construction material prices increased by 0.2 per cent in July 2002 and increased by 3.5 per cent in the year since July 2001. The most notable monthly change was an increase in ready mixed mortar and concrete (+0.7 per cent).
- Prices of capital goods increased by 1.2 per cent in July 2002 and increased by 5.9 per cent in the year since July 2001.
- The price of energy products decreased by 0.6 per cent in July 2002 and increased by 6.7 per cent in the year since July 2001.
- Petroleum fuels decreased by 1.6 per cent in July 2002 and year on year this index decreased by 4.1 per cent.