Import prices down by over one per cent

Import prices took a downward turn, as prices fell by 1.2 per cent from October to November. This was explained by the price falls in crude oil, metallic ores and agricultural products. In the year to November import prices have risen by 2.3 per cent. This information can be gathered from the Import Price Index of Statistics Finland.

Export prices fell by 0.2 per cent from October to November. The fall was attributable to the lower prices of paper and paperboard. In the year to November export prices have fallen by four per cent.

Wholesale prices fell by 0.7 per cent from October to November, due to cheaper agricultural products, oil products, crude oil and metallic ores. As a whole, wholesale prices have risen by 0.7 per cent at the annual level. The wholesale prices of domestic goods have risen by 0.2 per cent over the year and those of imported goods by 1.5 per cent.

The HWWA index, which measures the dollar prices of raw materials on the world market, also took a downward turn - the drop from October to November amounted to 2.8 per cent. It was accounted for above all by cheaper energy raw materials. In the year to November the HWWA index was up by 13.5 per cent.

Changes in producer price indices from October to November
and in the year to November 1996

Source: Producer Price Indices, November 1996
For further information, please contact Mr Jarmo Ranki, tel. +358 9 1734 3472,
or Ms Anne Forss, tel. +358 9 1734 3469.