According to the Federal Statistical Office, the import price index for June 2007 was 1.3% higher than in June last year. This increase in June is higher than in May and April 2007 when import prices had increased by just 0.6% and 0.5% respectively as compared to the same periods in 2006. As compared to May 2007 the import price index increased slightly by 0.6% in June.
Particularly high in June 2007 were the annual rates of price increases for pig iron, steel and iron alloys (+21.4%) as well as for nonferrous metals and semifinished products thereof (+11.1%). Cheaper than than one year ago were data processing devices and equipment (-29.2%) as well as electronic devices (-15.6%).
Prices for energy sources also fell as compared to June 2006 (-1.0%). While prices of hard coal and crude oil imports increased by 7.9% and 0.6% as compared to June 2006, prices of natural gas and mineral oil products fell by 12.2% and 3.1% respectively.
The export price index was up by 2.0% in June this year as compared to the same month last year. In May and April 2007 the rate of annual price increases had been 1.8% and 1.9% respectively. As compared to May 2007 the export price index increased by 0.2%. 