Overall manufacturing prices have decreased by 1% in July, according to the latest survey published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The figures compare to an overall decrease of 0.1% recorded for the same period last year. As a result, the annual percentage change showed showed a decrease of 1.7% in July 2007, which compares to a decrease of 0.8% in June 2007.

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The yearly price index for mining and quarrying decreased by 1.2% while there was a monthly decrease of 2.7%.

However, material prices in the construction industry increased by 5.5% in the year since July 2006. The most notable yearly changes were increases in rough timber (including plain sewn) (+10.3%), cement (+9.4%) and bituminous macadam and asphalt (+9.2%).

The price of energy products inceased by 9.3% in the year since July 2006, while petroleum fuel prices increased by 1.1%. In July 2007, there was a monthly increase in energy products of 0.4%, while petroleum fuel prices increased by 1.6%.

(LC)