Cost index for road goods transport, Q1 2005

The fuel index has increased by 5.6 per cent for the last month. From February 2004 to March 2005 this sub-index has increased by 14.3 per cent.

The fuel index is based on actual diesel prices collected from a representative selection of dealers across the country on the 15th of each month.

Lower capital costs

The index for capital costs decreased by 0.7 per cent the last month, mainly due to decrease in the real interests rates. In the last 12 months this index, which is composed by depreciation and amortization, interest costs and annual fee, has increased by 1,8 per cent.

The real interest rates are based on the consumer price index and are three month's NIBOR-rates from the Central Bank of Norway, and may therefore deviate somewhat from the average interest offered by Norwegian banks.

The other sub-indices show little or no change over the last month.

Tables:

• Table 1 Total cost indices. January 1998=100