ROME (Reuters) – Italian industrial producer prices in May ended a negative streak that had lasted since November, recording an economic increase, albeit modest.
According to data released this morning by Istat, in the month in question the index increased by 0.3% on a monthly basis while it fell by 3.5% on an annual basis, from -0.9% and -5.9% respectively in April.
At the economic level, the growth is widespread across all groups with the exception of capital goods whose prices are stationary, the institute specifies in a note.
The further reduction in the decline on an annual basis “is still mainly due to the easing of the negative trend in prices of the energy component on the domestic market”.
On the domestic market, prices in May grew by 0.3% on a monthly basis and fell by 4.9% on an annual basis, but net of the energy sector they recorded a cyclical increase of 0.2% and a trend decrease of 1. 4%.
On the foreign market, prices grew by 0.3% in economic terms (+0.2% euro area, +0.3% non-euro area) and decreased by 0.8% on a trend basis (-1.4% euro area , -0.1% non-euro area).
In the March-May quarter, compared to the previous one, industrial producer prices decreased by 2.0% (-3.1% domestic market, +0.1% foreign market).
(Antonella Cinelli, editing Sabina Suzzi)
