Manufacturing prices considerably higher

In October, factory gate prices in the Dutch manufacturing industry were 6.9 percent up on the same month in 2006, the most substantial price increase in eighteen months.

Selling prices of the petroleum processing and refining industry were more than 22 percent higher than in October 2006. The oil price per barrel (in dollars) rose by an average 38 percent. The sharp price increase was partly offset by a devaluation of the dollar against the euro by more than 11 percent. Save in the petroleum processing industry, manufacturing prices were 4.7 percent higher than one year previously.

Products of the food industry cost far more than twelve months previously as well: selling prices were 12.5 percent higher. At the end of 2006, the price rise in this sector of industry was about 2 percent, but it has been growing continuously ever since.

Not all products of the manufacturing industry were more expensive however. In the basic metalindustry prices were down by 2.9 percent relative to October 2006. Such a price drop has not occurred in the basic metal industry in the past five years.

Factory gate prices in the manufacturing industry were on average 0.9 percent up on September. Prices of products sold on the domestic market rose by slightly more than those of exported goods.

Factory gate prices