Price index of first-hand domestic sales, 15 November 2001

Prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials decreased 6.6 per cent from October to November. The decline was due to lower prices of petroleum and petroleum products.

Prices of crude materials went down by 1.1 per cent and have shown decline since June. The groups food and machinery and transport equipment were the only groups that showed a rise in prices.

The 12-month rate

The 12-month rate (November 2000 - November 2001) of the total index was -8.8 per cent, and this reduction was caused by reduced prices of oil products, crude materials and manufactured goods. Prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials went down 35 per cent in this period. Prices of crude materials decreased 13.3 per cent, mainly due to lower prices of products in the groups pulp and waste paper, and metalliferous ores and metal scrap. The strongest increase in prices occurred in the group food, where prices increased by 3.7 per cent, and in machinery and transport equipment where prices rose 2.9 per cent.

The development in the 12-month rate

From April to November the 12-month rate has gone from a more than 7 per cent to -8.8 per cent. Last month the corresponding figure was -7 per cent. Prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials are now 35 per cent down compared with the price level 12 months ago, where as in October it was down 30.3 per cent. Food went from 4.8 per cent in October to 3.7 per cent in November. The largest decline in this group occurred in prices of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and products thereof.

Manufactured goods was the only group with growth in the 12-month rate.