Euro zone industrial producer prices stable in December

The euro-zone industrial producer prices remained unchanged in December 2006, compared to the previous month, the European Union (EU)'s statistical office Eurostat said on Friday.

Compared to the same period of 2005, industrial producer prices increased by 4.1 percent in the 12-nation euro zone.

For the 25-nation EU, prices fell by 0.1 percent in December compared to the previous month and increased by 3.3 percent year on year.

On monthly basis, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector rose by 0.1 percent in the euro zone and remained unchanged in the EU. Prices in the energy sector fell by 0.2 percent and 0.4 percent respectively.

In both zones, prices of capital goods, durable consumer goods and non-durable consumer goods increased by 0.1 percent, while intermediate goods remained stable.

The average industrial producer price index for 2006, compared to 2005, increased by 5.1 percent for the euro zone and 5.8 percent for the EU.

Source: Xinhua