In May 2011, compared with the previous month, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector increased by 0.2% in both the euro area and the EU27. Prices in the energy sector fell by 1.1% and 1.3% respectively. In both zones, non-durable consumer goods gained 0.3%, while capital goods remained stable. Intermediate goods increased by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods rose by 0.1% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27.
Among the Member States for which data are available, the highest decreases in the total index were observed in Greece (-1.4%), Sweden and the United Kingdom (both -1.1%) and France (-0.5%), while prices remained stable in Germany, Malta, Romania and Finland. The highest increases were recorded in Cyprus (+1.8%), Latvia (+1.3%), Ireland and Lithuania (both +1.2%) and Denmark (+1.1%).
Annual changes
In May 2011 compared with May 2010, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector increased by 4.2% in the euro area and by 4.3% in the EU27. Prices in the energy sector gained 11.9% and 13.7% respectively. Intermediate goods rose by 6.6% in the euro area and by 6.8% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods increased by 3.7% in the euro area and by 4.1% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods rose by 1.9% in the euro area and by 1.8% in the EU27. Capital goods gained 1.2% in the euro area and 1.3% in the EU27.
Among Member States for which data are available, the largest increases in the total index were observed in the United Kingdom (+11.9%), Denmark (+10.8%), the Netherlands (+10.7%) and Bulgaria (+10.0%), and the smallest in Malta (+0.8%), Sweden(+2.3%), Hungary and Slovakia (both +3.2%).
