Manufacturers' prices up in July

Manufacturers put up the prices of their products in July. On average prices were 0.6 percent higher than in June. Products sold within the Netherlands cost an average 0.5 percent more, while exported products were 0.7 percent more expensive.

Producers’ selling prices and intermediate consumption

Manufacturers had to pay more for their raw materials and semi-manufactured products in July. The prices of this intermediate consumption were 0.9 percent higher on average than in June. Raw materials and semi-manufactures purchased in the Netherlands were 0.5 percent more expensive, while imported raw materials and semi-manufactured products cost 1.3 percent more than in July.

Prices still lower than last year

In spite of the increases, selling prices and the prices of intermediate consumption were still lower than in July 2001. Selling prices were on average 1.0 percent lower than twelve months previously. The decrease compared with last year is smaller than in May and June, however: in these months prices were 3.9 percent and 3.6 percent lower respectively than twelve months previously.

Selling prices on the domestic market were 0.4 percent lower in July than in the same month last year, while exported products cost 1.4 percent less.

Prices of raw materials and semi-manufactures were 2.4 percent lower in July this year than in July 2001. Here, too, the price decrease compared with twelve months previously is smaller than in the preceding months. In May prices were 5.5 percent lower than last year and in June even 6.5 percent lower than twelve months beforehand.

Prices of raw materials and semi-manufactures bought in the Netherlands were 2.9 percent lower in July than last year. Those imported from abroad cost 2.1 percent less.

Gerard Taal