Source:Eurostat

5 AUGUST

PRODUCER PRICES remained unchanged in June month-on-month despite energy prices rise to -0.3% as Brent crude oil prices per barrel had declined by -0.6% to a monthly average USD 113.76 compared with May, but a substantial -7.6% against April USD 123.15. Global growth concerns brought about by weak US job data and the Euro area's lingering Greek debt crisis and need for a second bail-out pushed down energy prices and consequently main industrial groups. Intermediate Goods, the lead industrial group with 30% share of all prices, recorded stable producer prices and for the second consecutive month.  

   
Capital Goods producer prices, third in weight with 22% share of all prices (behind energy's 24.4%) inched up +0.2% but remained overall flat since March equally to Durable Consumer Goods (2.7% share of all producer prices). Non Durable Consumer Goods producer prices benefited from commodity prices drop and stabilized for the first time since January.

In France, domestic producer prices re-aligned with external markets according to national statistics and fell overall -0.1% although coke and refinery producer prices -2.2% decline stayed above external markets -2.8% price cut due to higher domestic refinery costs. By contrast, food producer prices on external markets recorded +0.8% rise compared with +0.4% on the domestic market. Electric-electronic equipment-IT and machinery producer prices grew +0.3% on the domestic market compared with -0.4% price cut on external markets. Transport equipment producer prices kept more in sync,  a +0.4% gain on the domestic market compared with +0.3% on external markets.

Major trade partners reported equal producer prices stabilization: Germany's producer prices stayed unchanged and for the second consecutive month equally to Spain and Italy while the UK‘s edged up +0.2%. Out of the EU 27, eastern Europe's Romania and Latvia remained exceptions as producer prices rose respectively +0.6% and +1.3% while Ireland recorded the biggest price cut -1.2%.

In one year, overall producer prices in the Euro area moved down to +5.9% due to energy prices milder increase +10.7%, compared with earlier spikes. Intermediate Goods producer prices stayed on the rise and grew +6.4% while Capital Goods kept a linear +1.4%. Durable Consumer Goods producer prices rose +1.7% and Non Durable +3.7%.

France's domestic producer prices climbed +6.1% on the same period, pushed up by manufactured products prices, a + 5.9% increase (+3% n external markets), and coke refinery +21.6% (+19.4% on external markets). Domestic food producer prices nearly matched external markets hike, respectively +7.3% and +7.7% unlike electric-electronic equipment-IT and machinery producer prices, +1.1% on the domestic compared with +0.5% on external markets, transport equipment, +1.8% and -0.1%, and other industrial products +4.2% compared with +3% on external markets.

In the Euro area, producer prices rose +5.9%. Germany's grew +5.6%, Italy's +4.7%, and Spain's +6.7%. In the EU 27, the UK's producer prices shot up +12.7%.