In February 2009 compared with January 2009, the industrial producer price index fell by 0.5% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.3% in the EU27. In January, prices decreased by 1.1% and 0.7% respectively.

In February 2009 compared with February 2008, industrial producer prices dropped by 1.8% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU27.

Monthly changes

In February 2009, compared with the previous month, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector fell by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27. Prices in the energy sector decreased by 0.7% and 0.3% respectively.

Intermediate goods declined by 0.9% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods dropped by 0.3% and 0.1% respectively. Capital goods remained unchanged in both zones. Durable consumer goods gained 0.3% in the euro area and 0.4% in the EU27.

Among Member States for which data is available, the highest increases in the total index were registered in Hungary (+2.4%), Poland (+1.5%) and Denmark (+1.3%), and the largest falls in Lithuania (-1.2%), Bulgaria (-0.9%) and Estonia (-0.7%), Malta stood at +0.1.

Annual changes

In February 2009, compared with February 2008, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector decreased by 1.0% in the euro area, but increased by 0.1% in the EU27. Prices in the energy sector fell by 4.5% and 3.3% respectively. Intermediate goods declined by 3.1% in the euro area and by 1.7% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods decreased by 0.9% in the euro area, but increased by 0.5% in the EU27. Capital goods rose by 1.8% and 2.4% respectively. Durable consumer goods gained 2.0% in the euro area and 2.5% in the EU27.

Among Member States for which data is available, the highest increases in the total index were observed in Malta (+39.4%), Hungary (+6.2%) and Romania (+5.8%), and the largest falls in Greece (-5.3%), France and the Netherlands (both -4.5%).

These figures come from Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.