Sharper increase selling prices manufacturing industry

Selling prices of Dutch manufacturing industry increased by 1.6 percent in April  compared to March 2006. For the fourth month in a row selling prices went up. April’s price rise is obviously more substantial than in the two preceding months. Domestic selling prices in April were 1.4 percent higher than in March. Foreign selling prices rose slightly more (1.7 percent).

Selling prices were on average 6.5 percent higher in April than in the same month last year. The price increase for products sold in the Netherlands was lower than for exported products. The price increase for products sold in the Netherlands and for exported products was 5.5 and 7.2 percent respectively compared to April 2005.

Prices of raw materials and semi-manufactured goods used in the manufacturing industry increased by 2.5 percent in April compared to March 2006. This was mainly due to a price rise of 3.6 percent for imported raw materials and semi-fabricated products. Prices of domestic raw materials and semi-manufactured goods increased by 0.7 percent.

In April prices of raw materials and semi-manufactured goods were 14.3 percent higher than in April last year. Imported raw materials and semi-manufactures were 17.3 percent more expensive and domestic raw materials and semi-manufactures 9.4 percent.

Prices of crude oil and oil products largely account for the development of producer prices. Excluding the oil industry, selling prices of Dutch manufacturing industry were 3.1 percent higher in April 2006 than twelve months previously; prices of raw materials and semi-manufactured goods were 6.8 percent higher.

Factory gate prices