Bulgaria Sees Largest y/y Increase in EU Industry Prices

Bulgaria has registered the largest increase in its total year on year industry producer price index among all EU member states (+12.5%) in February 2011, according to Eurostat

The Balkan country is followed by the Netherlands (+10.3%), Belgium (+10.2%) and the United Kingdom (+9.9%). The smallest increases were observed in Malta (+0.8%), Sweden (+0.9%) and Slovakia (+3.4%).

In February 2011 compared with February 2010, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector increased by 4.5% in both the euro area and the EU27. Prices in the energy sector gained 12.8% and 13.2% respectively.

Intermediate goods rose by 8.1% in the euro area and by 8.0% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods increased by 2.6% and 3.0% respectively. Durable consumer goods rose by 1.8% in the euro area and by 2.0% in the EU27. Capital goods gained 1.2% in the euro area and 1.3% in the EU27