Brussels: Industrial producer prices in both the euro area and the European Union experienced a modest increase of 0.2 percent in May compared to April, as per preliminary estimates released by Eurostat. This follows previous increases of 0.7 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively, in the preceding month.
According to Emirates News Agency, on a year-on-year basis, industrial producer prices marked a significant rise of 5.9 percent in the euro area and 5.7 percent in the EU when compared to May 2025. The month-on-month analysis reveals that within the euro area, prices for intermediate goods rose by 1.4 percent, while energy prices saw a decrease of 1.0 percent. Capital goods and durable consumer goods saw increases of 0.2 percent and 0.3 percent respectively, whereas non-durable consumer goods experienced a slight decline of 0.1 percent. Excluding energy, prices in the total industry rose by 0.7 percent.
In a similar trend within the EU, industrial producer prices mirrored the euro area's performance, with a 1.4 percent increase for intermediate goods and a 1.0 percent decrease for energy. Capital goods and durable consumer goods also rose by 0.2 percent and 0.3 percent respectively, while non-durable consumer goods fell by 0.1 percent. Excluding energy, the total industry prices increased by 0.7 percent.
Cyprus, Ireland, and the Netherlands recorded the highest monthly increases in industrial producer prices, with rises of 3.6 percent, 2.8 percent, and 1.9 percent respectively. Conversely, Croatia, Hungary, and Italy saw the largest decreases, with drops of 2.1 percent, 1.3 percent, and 0.5 percent respectively.
On an annual scale, the euro area experienced a 5.5 percent increase in prices for intermediate goods, a substantial 14.0 percent rise for energy, and increases of 2.2 percent and 2.8 percent for capital goods and durable consumer goods respectively. Non-durable consumer goods saw a decrease of 0.5 percent, with total industry prices excluding energy rising by 2.8 percent.
The EU's annual figures showed similar trends, with intermediate goods prices up by 5.2 percent, energy prices soaring by 14.3 percent, and capital goods and durable consumer goods increasing by 2.1 percent and 2.7 percent respectively. Non-durable consumer goods prices fell by 0.5 percent, while total industry prices excluding energy saw a 2.8 percent increase.
Notably, Bulgaria, Romania, and Lithuania experienced the highest annual increases in industrial producer prices, with rises of 19.3 percent, 13.5 percent, and 12.3 percent respectively. Luxembourg was the only country to report a decrease, with a reduction of 3.2 percent.