Agricultural produce prices up

The National Statistics Office today said that in the first quarter of 2013, the producer price index for agricultural products stood at 125.05 points, an increase of 1.45 points (+1.2%) when compared to the corresponding quarter last year.

NSO also noted that producer prices for fresh vegetables decreased by 20.3%, resulting from an overall increase in the supply of fresh vegetables on the market.

Lower producer prices were recorded for cauliflowers (-66%), onions (-30.6%) and vegetable marrows (-48.1%).

Producer prices for fresh vegetables were partially mitigated by a rise in prices of green beans and mushrooms, by 27.7% and 49% per cent respectively.

During the period under review, the fruit price index advanced by 27.7%. This was due to a decrease in citrus fruit production, mainly oranges, the price of which rose by 51.3% over the comparative period in 2012.

The animal slaughtering index rose by 9.7% over the first quarter last year, as higher prices were registered for pigs (+26.1%), poultry (+7.1%) and rabbits (+2.5%).

Furthermore, the animal products index went up by 15.2% on account of higher producer prices fetched for eggs (+16%) and milk (+15%).

The input price index for agriculture increased by 6.9%, from 110.35 points in the first quarter of 2012 to 117.93 this year, mainly due to higher feeding stuffs.

The goods and services index went up by 8.4% on account of higher prices paid for animal feeding stuffs (+16.4%) and motor fuels (+2.3%).

Additionally, the machinery and investment index edged up by 0.7%. This increase was attributed to higher prices of materials (+1.8%) and buildings (+0.1%)