Producer price index, 15 November 2002

Prices of refined petroleum products went down 8.4 per cent. The development was mainly due to lower prices of crude oil and a strong NOK. According to the London Spot Market's prices of heavy fuel oil where nearly 20 per cent lower in November than in October, while unleaded gasoline declined 12.5 per cent. Basic metals counteracted this decrease with a 1.7 per cent increase. Prices of food products also showed an increase of 0.4 per cent.

According to the main industrial groupings prices on energy goods went down by 9.6 per cent, while intermediate and consumer goods increased by 0.7 and 0.3 per cent.

In the domestic market manufacturing prices showed a decrease of 0.1 per cent. The development was mainly due to lower prices of refined oil products, and also fabricated metal products.

12-month rate, November 2001 - November 2002

Manufacturing prices went down 1.5 per cent from November 2001 to November 2002. The development was mainly to due to a decrease of 9.5 per cent in basic metals, as well as a 10 per cent decline in prices of pulp, paper and paper products. Prices of chemicals and chemical products, and food products also showed a decline. According to the main industrial groupings prices of energy goods increased by 8.5 per cent, while intermediate goods decreased by 3.3 per cent.