Manufactured products 12 percent cheaper

Factory gate prices of Dutch manufactured products were 12 percent down in April relative to April 2008. In March, prices dropped by nearly 11 percent. By mid-2008, factory gate prices were still about 12 percent up on one year ago. Subsequently, price increases slowed down rapidly in a relatively short period. Over the pas six months, manufactured products have been cheaper than twelve months previously.

Factory prices in the petroleum-processing and refining industry were substantially lower in April. Products manufactured in this sector were 42 percent cheaper than in April 2008. Price developments in this sector are seriously affected by the price of crude oil. The euro price of a barrel of North Sea Brent oil was 44 percent lower than twelve months previously.

Products manufactured by the chemical and basic metal industry also were considerably cheaper than in April 2008. Prices dropped by 23 and 8 percent respectively. Factory gate prices in the food processing industry were 6 percent down, just like prices in paper manufacturing, but in several branches of industry, prices were higher than twelve months previously.

Compared to March, factory gate prices hardly changed in April. Prices on the domestic market and on the export market virtually equalled those in the preceding month.

Factory gate prices