Manufacturers' prices up in April

Selling prices in the Dutch manufacturing industry rose in April 2002; they were 1.3 percent higher than in March. Products sold on the domestic market cost 1.2 percent more while prices of exported products rose by an average 1.4 percent in April.

Manufacturers paid about the same for raw materials and semi-manufactured products as in March. The prices of this intermediate consumption were slightly lower (-0.2 percent), for raw materials and semi-manufactures purchased on both the domestic and on foreign markets.

Producers’ selling prices and intermediate consumption

In spite of the fact that selling prices have risen in the last four months, like intermediate consumption, they are still lower than in April 2001.

In April 2002 the selling prices of manufactured products were 2.2 lower than in April 2001. Raw materials and semi-manufactures were 4.2 percent cheaper than in April 2001.

Gerard Taal