In the fourth quarter of 2015, producer prices of services sold to French businesses were almost unchanged for the second consecutive quarter, +0.1% as in the third quarter.
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Prices for information and communication services recovered sharply in Q4 (+1.2% after -0.7%). As every year at this time, prices for radio and television broadcasting services rose strongly.
Prices for scientific and technical services grew (+0.6%), driven above all by the seasonal rise in media representation services (+9.1%) and by those for management consulting services (+1.7%).
Prices for real estate activities increased again (+0.4% following +0.3%), driven up by prices for renting and operating services and by management services of real estate on a fee or contract basis (+0.4% for both).
Prices for administrative and support services advanced slightly (+0.2%): the rise in prices for employment services (+0.8%) was partially offset by the fall in prices for renting and leasing services and by the seasonal fall in prices for travel sale and arrangement (-5.0%).
Prices for transportation and storage services declined (-0.8% after -0.1%), mainly due to seasonal fall in air transport services. Prices for freight transport services by road (–0.3%) contributed also to the fall in prices for this sector.
Producer prices of services sold to households in France declined sharply in Q4 (-1.8% following +1.7%). In particular, prices for real estate activities slid (-1.3%). Prices for tourisme-related services decreased seasonally, especially those for accommodation and food services (-3.4%) and those for transportation and storage (-3.3%).
Producer prices of services sold on foreign markets fell back this quarter (-0.9% after +0.8%), especially prices for transportation and storage (–3.8%). On the contrary, prices for management consulting services strengthened (+1.9% following +0.1%) and those for IT services continued to rise (+0.7% after +2.1%).
In the fourth quarter of 2015, on all markets, services producer prices dipped (-0.5% after +0.6%). Year over year, they rose by 0.4%. ■