In February 2020, the month before coronavirus containment measures began to be widely introduced by Member States, industrial producer prices decreased by 0.6% in both the euro area and the EU, compared with January 2020, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
In January 2020, prices increased by 0.2% in both the euro area and the EU. In February 2020, compared with February 2019, industrial producer prices decreased by 1.3% in the euro area and by 1.0% in the EU.
Monthly comparison by main industrial grouping and by Member State
Industrial producer prices in the euro area in February 2020, compared with January 2020, decreased by 2.3% in the energy sector and by 0.2% for intermediate goods, while prices rose by 0.1% for capital goods and by 0.2% for durable consumer goods and for non-durable consumer goods. Prices in total industry excluding energy remained stable.
In the EU, industrial producer prices decreased by 2.4% in the energy sector and by 0.2% for intermediate goods, while prices rose by 0.1% for capital goods and for non-durable consumer goods and by 0.3% for durable consumer goods. Prices in total industry excluding energy remained stable.
The largest decreases in industrial producer prices were recorded in Denmark (-2.2%), Spain and Portugal (both -1.3%), while the highest increases were observed in Slovakia (+2.2%), Ireland and Cyprus (both +0.2%).
Annual comparison by main industrial grouping and by Member State
Industrial producer prices in the euro area in February 2020, compared with February 2019, decreased by 6.5% in the energy sector and by 1.2% for intermediate goods, while prices rose by 1.2% for capital goods, by 1.4% for durable consumer goods and by 2.4% for non-durable consumer goods. Prices in total industry excluding energy rose by 0.5%.
In the EU, industrial producer prices decreased by 5.9% in the energy sector and by 1.2% for intermediate goods, while prices rose by 1.2% for capital goods, by 1.5% for durable consumer goods and by 2.7% for non-durable consumer goods.
Prices in total industry excluding energy rose by 0.6%. The largest decreases in industrial producer prices were observed in Denmark (-5.7%), Estonia (-4.7%) and Italy (-3.8%), while the highest increases were recorded in Romania (+3.4%), Hungary (+3.3%) and Bulgaria (+3.0%).
The euro area (EA19) includes Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland.
The European Union (EU27) includes Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden. ■