The Producer Price Index (Manufacturing) for January 2015 stood at 119.9 points, representing an increase of 11.5 per cent when compared with the 107.5 points recorded the previous month.

Increases were recorded for Beverages by 78.2 per cent; Petroleum and Chemical Products by 2.7 per cent; and Fabricated Metal Products, except Machinery and Equipment, by 1.1 per cent.

Decreases were registered for Other Manufacturing by 7.3 per cent and Other Non-metallic Mineral Products by 0.4 per cent. Food Products, Wearing Apparel, Printing and Reproduction of Recorded Media, Rubber and Plastics Products and Furniture remained constant over the period.

Between January 2014 and January 2015, the Producer Price Index increased by 12.1 per cent, from 106.9 points to 119.9 points. The Food Production Sector experienced a decline of 0.3 per cent between January 2014 and January 2015.

Decreases in prepared animal feeds of 5.6 per cent and sugar by 2.7 per cent contributed to the decline. However, increases were recorded during the period for processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans and molluscs by 5.2 per cent and processing and preserving of meat by 1.1 per cent.

Beverages increased by 86.6 per cent during the period January 2014 to January 2015. This was due to an increase in distilling, rectifying and blending of spirits of 165.0 per cent.

The Other Non-Metallic Mineral Products Sector showed an increase of 0.1 per cent between January 2014 and January 2015. An increase of 0.1 per cent in articles of concrete, cement and plaster was recorded during the period.

An increase of 0.4 per cent was recorded for the Fabricated Metal Products (except machinery and equipment) Sector during the period January 2014 to January 2015.

This could be attributed to a 12.5 per cent increase in other fabricated metal products not elsewhere classified. A 3.3 per cent decrease was recorded in the index for forging, pressing, stamping and roll-forming of metal; as well as powder metallurgy.

Author: Division of Economic Affairs/BGIS

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