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Dec
12th
2007

Fruit & vegetable prices register a large increase in 3rd quarter

Author: Gozo News | Filed under Local News |  0 comments  

Fruit and VegetablesThe producer price index for agricultural products rose by 7.4 points (+7.7 per cent), from 96.0 points in the third quarter of 2006 to 103.4 points in the corresponding quarter of 2007. Different factors within the agricultural sector contributed to this rise.

The fresh vegetables price index rose by 23.4 per cent over the third quarter of 2006. As a result of the general decline in supply on the market, increases in the producer prices of the main vegetables such as tomatoes (+68.3 per cent), sugar melons (+12.1 per cent), watermelons (+16.6 per cent) and mushrooms (+6.4 per cent) were registered. The fresh fruit price index stood at 101.6 points, an increase of 32.3 per cent when compared to the same period last year. This was mainly due to a fall in the supply of fresh fruit, primarily grapes and peaches, the prices of which increased by 67.3 per cent and 18.6 per cent respectively.

A sharp drop in the market supply of potatoes was the main factor underpinning higher prices (+66.4 per cent) for farmers who produced this crop.

In contrast, the animals index declined by 1.8 per cent as lower prices were fetched for slaughtered bulls (-8.0 per cent) and pigs (-5.0 per cent). Prices for slaughtered cows and rabbits rose marginally by 0.4 per cent and 1.0 per cent respectively.

The animal products index rose by 6.2 per cent solely on account of a higher price fetched for raw milk (+8.5 per cent), while the price of eggs remained unchanged.

The input price index for agriculture increased by 2.6 per cent, from 109.3 points in the third quarter of 2006 to 112.1 points characterised by contrasting developments. The goods and services index registered an increase of 2.6 per cent, brought about by costlier feeding stuffs (+7.8 per cent) and higher prices paid for the maintenance of materials (+4.6 per cent). The prices of motor fuels declined by 4.6 per cent over the comparative period of last year. The machinery and investment index rose by 1.9 per cent on account of higher prices paid for machinery used in the cultivation of crops (+2.1 per cent)

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