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

First-hand domestic sales of goods decreased by 0.9 per cent last month. Prices of petroleum and petroleum products, food, crude materials and electricity fell by 4.9 per cent and contributed mostly to the decrease. These prices are now back to the level of July, before the rise in August by 5.5 per cent.

Prices of electricity also fell last month - here the decrease was by 4.8 per cent.

Food prices rose by 0.1 per cent in November. Prices of cereals rose by 0.1 per cent while fish prices decreased by 1.0 per cent. Prices of imported vegetables and fruit fell by 4.5 per cent while vegetables and fruit produced in Norway increased by 1.6 per cent.

Prices of manufactured goods classified by material rose by 1.2 per cent last month. Prices of non-ferrous metals contributed mostly to the increase, particularly aluminum prices.

Prices of machinery and transport equipment fell by 0.8 per cent from October to November. Here prices of office machines, data processing machines and electrical machinery and apparatus fell by 1.0 and 1.5 per cent, respectively.

The 12-month rate, November 2004 to November 2005: up 3.6 per cent

Food prices rose by 1.6 per cent from November of 2004 to November of 2005. Meat prices contributed the most. Prices of petroleum and petroleum products, food, crude materials and electricity rose by 22.9 per cent. The main drivers for this rise were the prices of refined petroleum products that rose by 36.4 per cent by the last twelve months. The 12-month rate of electric current had a continuous fall since June 2004. Prices of non-ferrous metals increased by 15.1 per cent last year, and again it is aluminum prices that contribute most.

Prices of domestic goods increased by 5.3 per cent the last twelve months. Prices rose mostly for petroleum and petroleum products, food, crude materials and electricity, chemicals and manufactured goods classified by material. The prices for these industrial groupings rose by 18.9, 2.8 and 2.6 per cent respectively.