Bulgaria Sees EU's Highest Y/Y Production Prices Increase Aug 2012

Bulgaria observed EU's largest increase in the total industrial production price index in August 2012 compared with August 2011 (+7.1%).

The Balkan country was followed by Greece (+6.8%) and Cyprus (+6.7%), while the smallest increases were registered in Malta and Slovenia (both +0.8%) and Austria (+1.1%).

The only decrease was recorded in Sweden (-0.5%), according to data released by Eurostat.

In August 2012 compared with August 2011, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector increased by 1.0% in the euro area and by 1.1% in the EU27. Prices in the energy sector gained 7.9% and 7.2% respectively.

Nondurable consumer goods rose by 2.1% in the euro area and by 2.4% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods increased by 1.6% in both zones. Capital goods gained 0.9% in the euro area and 1.0% in the EU27. Intermediate goods rose by 0.3% in both zones.

In August 2012, compared with the previous month, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector gained 0.3% in both the euro area and the EU27. Prices in the energy sector increased by 2.4% and 3.2% respectively.

Intermediate goods rose by 0.5% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU27. In both zones, non-durable consumer goods gained 0.3% and durable consumer goods 0.1%, while capital goods remained stable.

Among the Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in the total index were recorded in Denmark (+2.9%), the United Kingdom (+1.8%) and Finland (+1.7%), and the lowest in Slovenia (+0.1%) and Latvia (+0.3%). Prices remained stable in Belgium, Hungary and Malta.

In August 2012, compared with July 2012, the industrial producer price index1 rose by 0.9% in the euro area (EA17) and by 1.0% in the EU272. In July prices increased by 0.3% in both zones.

In August 2012 compared with August 2011, industrial producer prices gained 2.7% in both the euro area and the

EU27.