17 April 2003
Inquiries: Mr Jari Harjunpää +358 9 1734 3472, Ms
Marja Ikonen +358 9 1734 3480
Director in charge: Mr Kari Molnar
Producer prices for manufactured products fell by 1.5 per cent in the year
According to Statistics Finland, producer prices for manufactured products fell by 1.5 per cent from last year's March to this year's March. The fall was mainly attributable to lower prices of electronic and electrical equipment, pulp, paper and paper products. The fall was curbed by higher prices of oil products and chemical products.
Export prices went down by 4.0 per cent from March 2002. This was particularly due to lower prices of electronic and electrical equipment, pulp, paper and paper products and furs.
Producer prices fell in March
Producer prices went down by 0.4 to 0.7 per cent from February to March, with the exception of export prices. Wholesale prices fell most, by 0.7 per cent. The fall of producer prices was chiefly caused by lower prices of electricity and crude oil.
Export prices rose by 0.1 per cent from February to March. The rise was most due to higher prices of chemicals and chemical products and oil products.
Month-on-month and year-on-year changes of Producer Price Indices in March 2003 (2000=100)
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| Indices | Point figure 3/2003 |
Change, % 2/2003 - 3/2003 |
Change, % 3/2002 - 3/2003 |
| Producer price index for manufactured products, total | 94.0 | -0.4 | -1.5 |
| Export price index | 88.0 | 0.1 | -4.0 |
| Import price index | 95.1 | -0.6 | 1.4 |
| Basic price index for domestic supply | 99.3 | -0.6 | 1.0 |
| Wholesale price index | 98.4 | -0.7 | 0.8 |
Producer price indices measure the development of commodity prices from enterprises' viewpoint. The basic price index for domestic supply measures the development of prices exclusive of tax of goods used in Finland as they enter the market. The wholesale price index describes the change in the purchase prices of goods used in Finland inclusive of tax. Both these indices contain domestic and imported goods.
Source: Producer Price Indices 2003, March. Statistics Finland