Factory gate prices up marginally

Factory gate prices in the Dutch manufacturing industry were 0.7 percent higher in January than twelve months previously. This is the smallest rise in almost three years. In December 2006, the increase was three times as large. At that time, factory gate prices were 2.2 percent higher than a year previously. On average, in 2006 manufactured products cost 4.8 percent more than in 2005.

Within the manufacturing industry, price developments differ substantially. In the petroleum industry factory gate prices were 15 percent lower than in the same month last year. The drop is accounted for by the development of crude oil prices. If the petroleum industry is left out of consideration, factory gate prices were 3.2 percent up on January 2006. This percentage almost equals the growth rate excluding the petroleum industry in the last three months of 2006.

Unlike oil prices, metal prices on the global market have risen strongly. This is one of the reasons why prices in the basic metal industry were over 12 percent higher than in January 2006. In addition, factory gate prices in the wood processing industry rose sharply as well. In January, factory gate prices of these products were 9 percent up on twelve months previously.

Factory gate prices