In February 2012, compared with the previous month, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector increased by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27. Prices in the energy sector rose by 1.2% and 1.5% respectively. Intermediate goods gained 0.6% in the euro area and 0.5% in the EU27. In both zones, durable consumer goods and non-durable consumer goods each increased by 0.3% and capital goods by 0.2%.
Among the Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in the total index were recorded in Denmark (+3.6%), Belgium (+1.9%) and Finland (+1.7%), and the lowest in the Czech Republic, Latvia and Malta (all +0.1%). Prices remained stable in Poland, while decreases were recorded in Cyprus (-0.3%) and Slovenia (-0.1%).
Annual comparison
In February 2012 compared with February 2011, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector increased by 1.7% in the euro area and by 2.0% in the EU27. Prices in the energy sector gained 9.3% and 9.7% respectively. Non-durable consumer goods rose by 2.9% in the euro area and by 3.3% in the EU27. In both zones, durable consumer goods increased by 2.4%. Capital goods gained 1.4% in the euro area and 1.5% in the EU27. Intermediate goods rose by 1.1% and 1.4% respectively.
Among the Member States for which data are available, the largest increases in the total index were observed in Latvia (+10.2%), Cyprus (+8.6%) and Lithuania (+8.3%), and the smallest in Sweden (+0.2%), Malta (+0.6%) and Slovenia (+0.7%).
