In April 2020, the second month after coronavirus containment measures were implemented by most Member States, industrial producer prices fell by 2.0% in the euro area and by 1.9% in the EU, compared with March 2020, according to estimates from Eurostat.
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In March 2020, prices decreased by 1.5% in the euro area and by 1.4% in the EU. In April 2020, compared with April 2019, industrial producer prices decreased by 4.5% in the euro area and by 4.3% in the EU.
Monthly comparison by main industrial grouping and by Member State
Industrial producer prices in the euro area in April 2020, compared with March 2020, decreased by 7.5% in the energy sector, by 0.7% for intermediate goods and by 0.2% for non-durable consumer goods, while prices rose by 0.1% for capital goods and by 0.2% for durable consumer goods. Prices in total industry excluding energy decreased by 0.3%.
In the EU, industrial producer prices decreased by 7.1% in the energy sector, by 0.6% for intermediate goods and by 0.2% for non-durable consumer goods, while prices rose by 0.1% for durable consumer goods and by 0.2% for capital goods. Prices in total industry excluding energy decreased by 0.3%.
The largest decreases in industrial producer prices were recorded in Lithuania (-3.6%), Italy (-3.4%) and Spain (-3.0%), while the only increases were observed in Malta (+0.5%), Slovenia (+0.3%) and Luxembourg (+0.1%).
Annual comparison by main industrial grouping and by Member State
Industrial producer prices in the euro area in April 2020, compared with April 2019, decreased by 16.5% in the energy sector and by 2.7% for intermediate goods, while prices rose by 1.0% for capital goods, by 1.3% for durable consumer goods and by 1.7% for non-durable consumer goods. Prices in total industry excluding energy decreased by 0.3%.
In the EU, industrial producer prices decreased by 16.1% in the energy sector and by 2.5% for intermediate goods, while prices rose by 1.2% for capital goods, by 1.4% for durable consumer goods and by 2.0% for non-durable consumer goods. Prices in total industry excluding energy decreased by 0.1%.
The largest decreases in industrial producer prices were observed in Lithuania (-10.3%), Greece (-9.4%) and Denmark (-8.7%), while the highest increases were recorded in Cyprus (+3.5%), Malta (+1.4%) and Slovakia (+1.2%).
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. ■