Provisional estimates show that when comparing July 2008 to the corresponding month last year, the industrial producer price index of the sampled enterprises increased by 12.3 per cent primarily due to higher energy prices.

Monthly changes - In July 2008, compared with the previous month, producer prices in total industry advanced by 11.2 per cent. Prices in the domestic market were unchanged for the Capital Goods sectors, Consumer Durables and Intermediate Goods sectors whilst a sharp increases was registered for the Energy sector. A decrease in the Consumer Non-Durables was reported.

Non-eurozone as well as eurozone export prices were stable during the comparable months except for a decrease in the Consumer Non-Durables and the Intermediate Goods sectors respectively. Non-eurozone export prices also registered a slight increase in the Capital Goods sector.

Annual changes - When comparing July 2008 to the same month last year, producer prices registered increases in the Domestic market for all Main Industrial Groupings (MIGs), except for Consumer Durable Goods. On the other hand, decreases were registered in the Eurozone export market, except for Consumer Non-Durables. In the non-eurozone export market decreases were registered in the Capital and Consumer Non-Durables sectors.