The euro area industrial producer price index rose by 0.3% in May 2006 compared with the previous month, and EU25 prices increased by 0.1%. In April3 prices gained 0.8% in the euro area and 0.5% in the EU25.
In May 2006 compared to May 2005, industrial producer prices rose by 6.0% in the euro area and by 6.9% in the EU25.
These figures come from Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

Monthly changes
In May 2006, compared to the previous month, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector increased by 0.4% in both the euro area and the EU25. Prices in the energy sector remained unchanged in the euro area, but fell by 0.6% in the EU25. Intermediate goods rose by 0.9% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU25. In both zones, durable consumer goods increased by 0.2%. Non-durable consumer goods increased by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU25. Capital goods remained unchanged in both zones.
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases were registered in Portugal (+1.0%), Slovakia (+0.8%), Spain, Italy and Finland (+0.7% each). The only decreases were recorded in Denmark (-1.6%), Sweden (-0.6%), the United Kingdom (-0.5%) and the Netherlands (-0.4%), while prices in Ireland remained unchanged.

Annual changes
In May 2006, compared to May 2005, and excluding the energy sector, industrial prices increased by 2.6% in both the euro area and the EU25. Prices in the energy sector rose by 18.6% and 21.7% respectively. In both zones, intermediate goods gained 4.5%. Both durable consumer goods and non-durable consumer goods increased by 1.7% in the euro area and by 1.6% in the EU25. Capital goods rose by 1.1% and 1.2% respectively.
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases were observed in the United Kingdom (+12.1%), Slovakia (+9.9%), the Netherlands (+9.7%) and Greece (+9.3%), and the lowest in the Czech Republic (+1.5%), Ireland (+2.0%) and Slovenia (+2.4%).