Wholesale prices increased by 3.1% in January 2007 as compared to January 2006. This increase is smaller than those registered for November and December as compared to the same months in 2005 (+3.7% in both cases). Compared to December 2006 the wholesale price index remained unchanged in January 2007. These figures were published today by the Federal Statistical Office.
Prices rose most strongly for corn, seeds, feeding stuffs (+26.5%) as well as for ore, iron, steel, nonferrous metals and semi-finished products thereof (+15.4%). On the other side, whole sale prices for solid fuels and mineral oil products fell as compared to 12 months ago (-5.2%). Wholesale prices for office machines and office equipment were also lower in January 2007 than those in the same month of 2006 (-10.3%).
Subject to seasonal influences the January 2007 wholesale prices for fruit and vegetables were by 4.8% higher than those in December 2006 after these had fallen by 2.4% from November to December 2006. On the other hand, wholesale prices for solid fuels and mineral oil products decreased by 2.4% in January as compared to December 2006 after these had temporarily risen by 0.6% from November to December 2006 (November 2006: -1.6%, October 2006: -3.9%).
In January the wholesale prices for ore, iron, steel, nonferrous metals and semifinished products thereof fell by 0.8% as compared to December 2006 as did those for office machines and equipment which also fell by 0.8% from December 2006 to January 2007 (Dezember 2006: -1.1%, November 2006: -0.8%). 