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

Prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials decreased by 3.9 per cent in this period. The decrease was due to lower prices of petroleum and petroleum products. Prices of crude oil showed the strongest decline within this group. Electric current also showed a decrease, 1.7 per cent. 0.4 per cent higher prices of food counteracted this effect. Vegetables and fruit and meat went up by 1.2 and 1.0 per cent respectively. One reason for higher prices was less supply of tomatoes and cauliflower. Higher prices of meat were due to an increase of processed meat. Prices of dairy products increased as well.

Prices of manufactured goods went down by 0.3 per cent, while chemicals and related products increased by 0.4 per cent.

Prices in the overall domestic market showed a decrease of 0.8 per cent. The main reason was the decrease in price of petroleum and petroleum products

The 12-month rate: 6.3 per cent increase

The overall 12-month rate was 6.3 per cent. The increase was mainly due to higher prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials and crude material. Electric current rose by nearly 60 per cent and was the main reason for the increase in the former group.

Prices of food increased by 1.4 per cent, and vegetables and fruit showed an increase by more than 10 per cent. Miscellaneous manufactured articles increased by 4.7 per cent. This was manly due to an increase by over 14 per cent of metalliferous ores and metal scrap.

One decimal from January 2004

Starting with the publishing of January figures all indices will be produced with one decimal. Two decimals have a tendency to give an exaggerated impression of the accuracy of the estimates. In addition we want to harmonize the indices with common practice - where one decimal is used.