Manufacturing products cost more

Factory gate prices of Dutch manufactured products were 0.6 percent higher in the first quarter of 2004 than in the fourth quarter of 2003. Prices of imported products hardly changed, according to provisional figures from Statistics Netherlands. The base of the index was shifted from 1995 to 2000 for figures from January 2004 onwards.

Factory gate prices up

Manufacturing enterprises increased the prices of their products by an average 0.6 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2003. Products for the domestic market cost 0.9 percent more, while those for the export market rose by 0.5 percent. Compared with twelve months previously, factory gate prices were 1.7 percent lower. This was mainly the consequence of the substantially lower prices for petroleum products. If these products are not taken into account, the prices would have been slightly higher than in the first quarter of 2003.

Import prices almost unchanged

Prices of imported manufactured products were 0.1 percent higher in the first quarter of this year than in the fourth quarter of last year. Compared with the first quarter of 2003 they were 1.8 percent lower.

Base shift

Starting from figures for January 2004, there has been a base shift for the index, from 1995=100 to 2000=100. At the same times a number of methodological improvement have been introduced. New series are also available in which the effects of excise duties are incorporated.

PDF contains complete press release, including tables and graphics.