The industrial producer price index in both the euro-zone and the whole European Union (EU) rose by 0.2 percent in December 2005 compared with the previous month, said Eurostat, the statistical service of the EU, on Thursday.

In November 2005, prices fell by 0.2 percent over the previous month in the euro-zone but gained 0.7 percent EU-wide.

On a yearly basis, industrial producer prices in December 2005 rose by 4.6 percent in the euro-zone and 6.2 percent EU-wide.

The average industrial producer price index for 2005, compared to 2004, increased by 4.1 percent for the euro-zone and 5.2 percent for the whole EU.

Compared to November, December 2005 total industrial prices, excluding the energy sector, increased by 0.1 percent in both the euro-zone and the whole EU. Prices in the energy sector rose by 0.4 percent and 0.6 percent respectively. In both zones, non-durable consumer goods gained 0.2 percent, and intermediate goods, capital goods and durable consumer goods 0.1 percent.

Among member states for which data are available, the highest monthly increases were registered in Belgium and Britain (both 0.8 percent), and Greece and the Netherlands (both 0.7 percent). The largest decreases were registered in Denmark (1.5 percent) and Luxembourg (1.1 percent), while prices in Spain, Ireland, Hungary and Finland remained stable.

On a yearly basis, total industrial prices, excluding the energy sector, rose by 1.4 percent in the euro-zone and by 1.5 percent EU-wide. Prices in the energy sector rose by 16.9 percent and 23.3 percent respectively. Intermediate goods gained 1.9 percent in the euro-zone and 2.1 percent EU-wide. Non-durable consumer goods rose by 1.3 percent in both zones. Durable consumer goods increased by 1.3 percent in the euro-zone and by 1.2 percent EU-wide. Capital goods gained 1.0 percent and 1.2 percent respectively.

Among member states for which data are available, the highest yearly increases were observed in Britain (14.8 percent), Denmark (10.6 percent) and the Netherlands (10.0 percent), and the lowest in Belgium (1.5 percent), Slovenia (1.8 percent) and Luxembourg (1.9 percent). The only decrease was recorded in the Czech Republic.

Source: Xinhua