Transport and storage, price indices, Q4 2012

The index for water transport was at 89.9 during the 4th quarter of 2012. This is 15.4 per cent lower than the same quarter of the preceding year, and 2.9 per cent lower than the 3rd quarter of 2012. The sub-indices for passenger ocean transport and freight ocean transport had the largest decline in the 4th quarter of 2012. These sub-indices were at 62.7 and 85.6 respectively during this period. This is 25.3 and 18.6 per cent lower respectively than the same quarter of 2011.

In fact, during the 4th quarter of 2012 all the sub-indices had a price decrease compared to the same period in 2011, with the exception of the sub-index for scheduled long distance passenger transport in coastal waters, which was at 123.9. That is 7.5 per cent higher than the same quarter of 2011.

Price movements in ocean transport must be seen in conjunction with exchange rate movements of the Norwegian kroner vis-à-vis the US dollar and Euro.

Stabilisation of prices for passenger air transport

The price index for passenger air transport had an increase of 18.5 per cent during the 4th quarter of 2012. The total index was at 103.4 in that period, compared to the record low index at 87.2 in the same period from the previous year, 2011. However, compared to the third quarter of 2012 the index was almost unchanged.

The biggest annual change was found in ticket prices for leisure travel. For this segment of the market, the index had an increase of 24.2 per cent in the 4th quarter of 2012, compared to the same period the year before. The change was less than one per cent growth compared to the third quarter of 2012. The price index for business travel had a yearly increase of more than 6 per cent, even though the change compared to the third quarter of 2012 was a decrease of 2.1 per cent.

Prices for storage and warehousing in decline

The index for storage and warehousing was at 108.6 during the fourth quarter of 2012; a decline of 5.3 per cent relative to the same quarter in 2011. The index was 0.1 per cent lower with respect to the third quarter of 2012.

Higher prices for cargo handling, slight decline for postal and courier services

The total index for cargo handling was at 128.6 during the fourth quarter of 2012. The index increased by 3.9 per cent from the third quarter of 2011 to the 4th quarter of 2012. Compared to the previous quarter in 2012, the index was 0.4 per cent higher.

The index for postal and courier services was at 109.1 during the 4th quarter of 2012. This index decreased by 2.6 per cent with respect to the 4th quarter of 2011 and by 2.4 per cent compared to the previous quarter of 2012.