Factory gate prices decreased by 0.2% in May 2007. This compares to a decrease of 0.9% recorded for May of last year. As a result, the annual percentage change showed a decrease of 0.9% in May 2007, which compares to a decrease of 1.5% in April 2007.
In the month, the index for export sales decreased by 0.4% while the index for home sales increased by 0.4%. In the year there was a decrease in export sales of 1.4% and an increase in home sales of 0.7%.
In the month the most significant changes were decreases in other chemical products (incl. man-made fibres) (-1.4%), and Office machinery (-1.3%), while there were increases in Electrical machinery and apparatus, not elsewhere classified (+1.3%).
Contributing to the annual change was a decrease in Office machinery (-10.4%), while there were increases in Basic chemicals (+0.9%).
Breaking down Wholesale price changes by sector of use shows that: • Year on year, the price of Capital goods increased by 2.9%, while prices remained unchanged in the month.