In May 2012, compared with the previous month, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector remained stable in both the euro area and the EU27. Prices in the energy sector fell by 1.4% and 2.3% respectively. Nondurable consumer goods decreased by 0.1% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27. Both intermediate goods and durable consumer goods remained stable in the euro area and rose by 0.1% in the EU27. Capital goods remained stable in both zones.
Among the Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in the total index were recorded in the United Kingdom (-2.0%), Denmark and Greece (both -1.4%) and France (-1.1%), and the highest increases in Cyprus (+2.1%), Hungary (+0.6%), Estonia and Slovakia (both +0.5%).
Annual comparison
In May 2012 compared with May 2011, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector increased by 1.1% in the euro area and by 1.4% in the EU27. Prices in the energy sector gained 6.4% and 5.6% respectively. Non-durable consumer goods rose by 1.9% in the euro area and by 2.3% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods increased by 1.9% and 2.0% respectively. Capital goods gained 1.2% in the euro area and 1.3% in the EU27. Intermediate goods rose by 0.5% and 0.7% respectively.
Among the Member States for which data are available, the largest increases in the total index were observed in Cyprus (+9.1%), Hungary (+7.4%) and Lithuania (+5.6%), and the smallest in Denmark and Austria (both +0.4%) and Malta (+0.7%). The only decrease was recorded in Sweden (-0.2%).
