According to the Federal Statistical Office the import price index was up by 0.6% in May 2007 as compared to the same month in 2006. Compared to April 2007 the index rose by 0.3%.
In May 2007, as was already the case in previous months, the annual inflation rate for non-ferrous metals and semi-finished products thereof was particularly high (+9.3%).
Particularly strong was the price increase for imports of crude nickel (+128.9%) which is mainly used for the production of stainless steel as well as import prices of crude lead, zinc and tin (+19.2%).
Cheaper than one year ago were among other things imports of data processing devices and equipment (– 29.0%) as well as of electronic components (-16.3%). There was also a price decrease by –4.2% in energy carriers as compared to May 2006.
As compared to April 2007 the price for energy was up the fourth time in a row in May 2007 (+2.3%). Prices for crude oil rose by 2.2% which is a smaller increase than in previous months. Import prices for mineral oil products increased by 3.8% as compared to April 2007.
The export price index in May 2007 was up by 1.8% as compared to May 2006 and by 0.2% as compared to April this year. 