Price index of first-hand domestic sales, 15 August 2005

Prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials increased by 5.5 per cent. Prices of petroleum and petroleum products increased by 6.3 per cent. The rise in prices of petroleum and petroleum products was mainly due to continued strong demand on the world market. Electricity prices increased by 4.1 per cent.

Prices of food increased slightly by 0.1 per cent this month. All the main groups saw prices increase except vegetables, fruit and cereals. The main reason for the price fall on vegetables, fruit and cereals was a higher supply of Norwegian goods on the domestic market. Crude material prices remained unchanged this month. In this group, paper showed the highest decrease, caused by higher international competition, while an increase in prices of crude fertilizers and crude minerals offset this decrease.

The price increase in the overall domestic market was 1.6 per cent, mainly driven by higher prices of petroleum and petroleum products, and electricity.

The 12-month rate, August 2004 to August 2005: up 3.9 per cent

The overall 12-month rate showed a rise in prices of 3.9 per cent, mainly due to a 23.7 per cent increase in prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials. The majority of the prices of other products increased slightly except machinery and transport equipment and animal and vegetable oils.

Prices of crude materials rose by 1.4 per cent, due to higher prices of crude fertilizers and crude minerals and metalliferous ores, whereas prices of food rose by 0.6 per cent compared with August 2004.