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

Electricity prices increased most this month within the grouping related to mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, 15.4 per cent compared to last month according figures from NordPool. The spot price increased by 28.1 per cent from December 2004 to December 2005. In December 2004 the price was low compared to the 2004 price level, while the price this month is above the 2005 average. The 2005 average is 3 per cent lower than the average in 2004.

Food prices were influenced by the decrease in meat and fish prices and fell 0.3 per cent from November to December. The meat and fish prices fell by 0.5 and 0.7 percent respectively.

Prices on machinery and transport equipment augmented 0.3 per cent, affected by the prices in the group for electrical machinery and apparatus. These prices increased by 2.1 per cent from November to December and are to some extent due to the increase in prices on energy and crude materials over the last year.

The 12-month rate, December 2004 to December 2005: up 5.8 per cent

The last twelve months the price index of first-hand domestic sales increased by 5.8 per cent. Prices on machinery and transport equipment decreased by 0.7 per cent, while mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials increased 33.9 per cent compared with last December. Food prices augmented by 1.2 per cent compared to December 2004. This is a rather stable increase compared to the 12-month rate from December 2003 to December 2004, which went up by 1.3 per cent. After an increase of 34.1 per cent from December 2003 to December 2004 the prices of iron and steel fell 4.2 per cent from December 2004 to December 2005.

The prices from the Norwegian producers increased by 7.1 per cent from December 2004 to December 2005. Prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials and chemicals and related products increased with 27.9 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively.