The industrial producer price index fell by 0.2 percent in March in both the euro area (EA17) and the EU272 compared to the prior month, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
In February prices rose by 0.2 percent and 0.4 percent respectively. In March, compared with March 2012, industrial producer prices gained 0.7 percent in both the euro area and the EU27.
Compared with the previous month, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector remained stable in both the euro area and the EU27. Prices in the energy sector fell by 0.6 percent in both zones. Intermediate goods decreased by 0.1 percent in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27. Durable consumer goods rose by 0.1 percent in the euro area, but fell by 0.1 percent in the EU27. In both zones, capital goods remained stable and non-durable consumer goods rose by 0.1 percent.
Among the Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in the total index were observed in Bulgaria and Greece (both -1.1 percent), Spain (-1 percent) and Lithuania (-0.6 percent), and the highest increases in Estonia (1.9 percent), Ireland (1.3 percent), Slovenia and Finland (both 0.3 percent).
Compared with March 2012, prices in total industry in March excluding the energy sector increased by 1 percent in the euro area and by 1.1 percent in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods rose by 2.1 percent and 2.3 percent respectively.
Capital goods increased by 0.7 percent in the euro area and by 0.8 percent in the EU27. In both zones, durable consumer goods gained 0.6 percent and intermediate goods 0.4 percent. Prices in the energy sector remained stable in the euro area, but fell by 0.5 percent in the EU27.
Among the Member States for which data are available, the largest increases in the total index were observed in
Estonia (11.3 percent), Belgium (3.7 percent), Ireland (2.6 percent) and France (1.9 percent). Decreases were recorded in Sweden (-1.4 percent), Greece (-1.3 percent), Austria (-0.8 percent), Poland (-0.5 percent) and the Netherlands (-0.4 percent).
