Source: CSO

The CSO reported today that Irish factory gate prices increased by 0.1% in September 2006. This compares to an increase of 0.9% recorded for September of last year. As a result, the annual percentage change showed an increase of 0.1% in September 2006, which compares to an increase of 0.9% in August 2006.

In the month, the index for export sales increased by 0.1% while the index for home sales also increased by 0.1%. In the year there was a decrease in export sales of 0.2% and an increase in home sales of 1.7%.

In the month the most significant changes were increases in Office Machinery and Computers (+0.4%), and Beverages (+1.2%), while there was a decrease in and Meat and Meat Products (-1.0%).

Contributing to the annual change were increases in Pharmaceuticals and other chemical products (incl. Man-made fibres) (+6.5%), Meat and meat products (+9.6%) and Mining and quarrying (+32.0%), while there was a decrease in Basic chemicals (-1.6%), and Office machinery and computers (-7.4%).

The yearly price index for Mining and quarrying increased by 32.0% while there was a monthly increase of 0.2%.

Breaking down Wholesale price changes by sector of use shows that:

Building and construction All material prices increased by 9.9% in the year since September 2005. The most notable yearly changes were increases in Bituminous macadam and asphalt (+18.0%), and Electrical fittings (+19.6%). Building and construction All material prices increased by 0.4% in the month.

Year on year, the price of Capital goods increased by 5.9%, while there was a monthly price increase of 0.1%.

The price of Energy products increased by 4.6% in the year since September 2005, while Petroleum fuels decreased by 1.5%. In September 2006, there was a monthly decrease in Energy products of 1.3%, while Petroleum fuels decreased by 4.7%.