Producer Price Indices in December 2004

According to Statistics Finland, producer price indices rose by between 0.1 and 3.5 per cent from December 2003 to December 2004. The biggest increase of 3.5 per cent was recorded in import prices, caused primarily by risen prices of crude oil, processed metals, metal ores, chemicals and chemical products. The rise in the prices was curbed by lower costs of electrical products and pharmaceutical preparations.

Producer price indices turned to a good decline in December as the prices of crude oil and oil products fell. Import prices fell most, by 1.5 per cent. The export price index fell by 0.9 per cent. Besides lower costs of oil products, fallen prices of pulp, paper and board also brought export prices down.

Month-on-month and year-on-year changes in Producer Price Indices in December 2004

Indices (2000=100)	Point figure 12/2004	Change, % 11/2004 - 12/2004	Change, % 12/2003 - 12/2004
Producer price index for manufactured products, total	92.8	-0.6	0.1
Export price index	86.2	-0.9	0.2
Import price index	96.9	-1.5	3.5
Basic price index for domestic supply	100.2	-0.6	1.6
Wholesale price index	98.3	-0.7	0.7

Source: Producer Price Indices 2004, December. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Mr Jari Harjunpää +358 9 1734 3472, Mr Anssi Vuorio +358 9 1734 2934, thi.tilastokeskus@stat.fi