Producer price indices for services, Q4 2010

This is the first time the price index for civil engineering has been published since it was closed down in 2002.

Prices for business consulting rose by 5 per cent in 2010

In 2010 the prices for business and other management consultancy activities were 4.9 per cent higher than in 2009. This is the strongest annual growth since the index series started in 2007. From the 3rd quarter of 2010 to the 4th quarter of 2010 the prices increased by 1.5 per cent.

Low annual growth for employment activities

Compared with the corresponding quarter in 2009, the prices for employment activities rose by 3.7 per cent in the 4th quarter of 2010. As a consequence of a decrease in the 3rd quarter of 2010 the annual growth was only 3 per cent.

Minor changes in the prices for legal and accounting activities

The prices for legal activities were almost unchanged from the 3rd quarter of 2010 to the 4th quarter of 2010. Compared to 2009, the prices were 3.8 per cent higher in 2010.

The prices for accounting and auditing activities increased by 3.2 per cent from the 4th quarter of 2009 to the 4th quarter of 2010. The growth was highest for the accountants, by 4.2 per cent. The auditors had a growth of 2.1 per cent. The annual growth in 2010 shows that the prices for these services were 3.6 per cent higher than in 2009.

Descending trend in car rental prices

Except for an increase in the 3rd quarter of 2010, the prices for car rental have decreased since the summer of 2009. The prices in 2010 were 1.9 per cent lower than in 2009. Compared with the previous quarter, the prices have declined by 1.5 per cent.

On the other hand, the decrease only existed for the business customers and the foreign customers. Private households experienced an increase in prices by 7.4 per cent from the 4th quarter of 2009 to the 4th quarter of 2010.

Stable prices for cleaning activities and architectural activities

Traditionally there are only minor changes in the prices for cleaning activities between the 3rd and 4th quarter of the year. 2010 was no exception, and the prices show a small increase, by 0.2 per cent. Compared with 2009, the prices were 3.7 per cent higher in 2010.

From the 3rd quarter of 2010 to the 4th quarter of 2010 the architect prices have increased by 0.2 per cent. On an annual basis, the prices in 2010 were 3.9 per cent higher than in 2009.