18 November 1997
Inquiries: Jarmo Ranki (09) 1734 3472, Anne Forss
(09) 1734 3469
Statistical Director in charge: Jarmo Hyrkkö
Higher prices of paper products raise export prices
According to Statistics Finland, export prices rose 1.7 per cent from September to October. This was due mainly to the close on five per cent rise in the prices of paper and paperboard, but also of sawn timber and pulp.
The yearonyear rise in export prices was 2.3 per cent, due in particular to the higher prices charged for basic metals, pulp and sawn timber. The prices of paper and paperboard were, by contrast, still 2.6 per cent lower than those in the previous year on average.
Import prices displayed a 0.4 per cent rise from September to October, attributable to the rise in the price of crude oil. The yearonyear rise in import prices was 1.3 per cent, caused by the price increases for agricultural products, basic metals, machinery and equipment.
The producer price index for domestic goods recorded no change from September to October as against a 2.2 per cent rise in the yearonyear change. The rise was attributable to the higher prices of food and beverages, sawn timber, pulp and basic metals. The prices of domestic food and beverages rose 2.4 per cent over the year, those of sawn timber a good 26 per cent, of pulp 20.5 per cent and of basic metals 8.4 per cent.
The rise in crude oil raised the HWWA index, which measures the dollar prices of raw materials on the world market, by 3.4 per cent from September to October. Over the year, the HWWA index nevertheless fell 6.5 per cent, due to the 14 per cent drop in the price of crude oil. The overall index, excluding energy, rose close on four per cent in the course of the year.
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| Changes in producer price
indices from September to October 1997 and in the year to October, % |
||
| Indices | 9/97 - 10/97 | 10/96 - 10/97 |
| Wholesale price index | 0,2 | 1,6 |
| Producer price index for manufactured goods | 0,6 | 2,5 |
| Producer price index for manufactured goods, domestic goods | 0,0 | 2,2 |
| Basic price index for domestic supply | 0,2 | 2,1 |
| Export price index | 1,7 | 2,3 |
| Import price index | 0,4 | 1,3 |
Source: Producer Price Indices, October 1997. Statistics Finland