In May 2009 compared with April 2009, the industrial producer price index fell by 0.2% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.4% in the EU27. In April, prices decreased by 0.9% and 1.0% respectively.

In May 2009 compared with May 2008, industrial producer prices dropped by 5.8% in the euro area and by 5.7% in the EU27.

Monthly changes

In May 2009, compared with the previous month, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector fell by 0.2% in both the euro area and the EU27. Prices in the energy sector increased by 0.2% in the euro area, but decreased by 0.7% in the EU27. Intermediate goods declined by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU27. In both zones, capital goods and non-durable consumer goods dropped by 0.2% and durable consumer goods by 0.1%.

Among Member States for which data is available, the largest decreases in the total index were recorded in Slovakia (-1.2%), Slovenia and Sweden (both -0.7%). The highest increases were observed in Greece (+1.0%), the Netherlands (+0.6%), Portugal and Romania (both +0.4%), while the index remained stable in Germany.

Annual changes

In May 2009, compared with May 2008, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector decreased by 2.9% in the euro area and by 1.8% in the EU27. Prices in the energy sector fell by 14.0% and 14.8% respectively. Intermediate goods declined by 5.9% in the euro area and by 4.6% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods dropped by 2.1% and 0.9% respectively. Capital goods rose by 0.6% in the euro area and by 1.2% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods gained 1.4% and 2.0% respectively.

Among Member States for which data is available, the largest falls in the total index were observed in the Netherlands (-11.3%), Greece (-9.4%) and Denmark (-8.8%). The only increases were registered in Romania (+2.5%), Hungary (+1.8%) and Sweden (+0.1%).

Note: There was no May data available for Malta.

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