Price index of first-hand domestic sales, 15 May 2003

Prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials decreased by 3.6 per cent from April to May. Among these products petroleum and petroleum products went down by 4.5 per cent, while electricity prices declined by 0.8 per cent. Most of the main groups showed a decline from April to May. The exceptions were beverages and tobacco as well as machinery and transport equipment. Overall prices have shown a downward trend since January. This development is partly due to the fall in electricity prices.

On the domestic market overall prices went down 1.3 per cent. Declines in prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials were the main reason for the decrease.

The 12-month rate, May 2002 to May 2003: 4.8 per cent increase

The overall 12-month rate increased by 4.8 per cent. This increase was to some extent caused by higher prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials. Within the latter mentioned group prices of electricity surged by about 75 per cent, while decreased prices of petroleum and petroleum products counteracted this group's increase. Prices of food went down 1.0 per cent compared with May 2002. This decline was among other things caused by lower prices of meat, fish and vegetables. Machinery and transport equipment went down 1.8 per cent. In this group the largest decline occurred in prices of office machines and data processing machines.