Price index of first-hand domestic sales, 15 February 2004

Prices of manufactured goods went up by 1.3 per cent compared with figures for January 2004, mainly due to increase in prices of non-ferrous metals by 5.7 per cent and paper and paperboard by 1.7 per cent. Food prices went up by 0.7 per cent. Meat and meat preparations increased by 1.4 per cent and vegetables and fruit by 1.8 per cent.

The only declines occurred for mineral fuels, and beverages and tobacco. Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials decreased by 1.6 per cent from January to February, petroleum and petroleum products by 1.4 per cent, and electrical current went down by 1.5 per cent.

The overall domestic market showed a price decrease of 0.1 per cent. The increase in most groups of products did not countereffect the decrease in mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials. The prices of beverages and tobacco also decreased.

The 12-month rate, February 2003 to February 2004: 1.1 per cent decrease

The overall 12-month rate went down by 1.1 per cent, mainly due to the decrease in prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials by 13.4 per cent. Prices of petroleum and petroleum products, and electrical current went down by 10.1 and 30.8 per cent respectively. Crude materials went up 13.2 per cent, due to increased prices of pulp and waste paper (17.0) and metalliferous ores and metal scrap (33.2).