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Notice of revision to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI): The data in this release was revised on 22 October 2020. See here for further information  
Extra information
For more information on this release:
E-mail: wpi@cso.ie Tony Kelleher (+353) 21 453 5096 Chris Moriarty (+353) 21 453 5447 Deirdre Dalton (+353) 21 453 5450
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-5198
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Wholesale Price Index

May 2018

 Price index (Year 2015 = 100)% monthly change% annual change
Mar 2018101.5-1.5%-2.9%
Apr 2018100.7-0.8%-4.0%
May 2018101.50.8%-3.3%

Annual Manufacturing Prices decrease by 3.3% in May

Figure 1 - Manufacturing Industries Output Price Index
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Monthly factory gate prices increased by 0.8% in May 2018. This compares to an increase of 0.1% for May of last year. The annual percentage change showed a decrease of 3.3% in May 2018, compared to a decrease of 4.0% in the year to April 2018.  See graph across and table 1.

In the month, the price index for export sales increased by 0.8%, while the index for home sales decreased by 0.3%. In the year there was a decrease of 3.5% in the price index for export sales (this can be influenced by currency fluctuations) and a decrease of 1.6% in respect of the price index for home sales.  See table 2 and Figure 2.

 

 

 

HomeExport
Jan 2015100.196.5
Feb 201599.698.6
Mar 201599.9100.9
Apr 201599.8102.3
May 2015100100
Jun 201599.999.6
Jul 201510099.6
Aug 2015100.3100
Sep 2015100.298.7
Oct 201510096.4
Nov 2015100.1103.8
Dec 2015100.1103.6
Jan 2016100101.2
Feb 201699.1101
Mar 201699.699.9
Apr 201610199.3
May 2016101.1100.1
Jun 2016101.299.2
Jul 2016101.299.6
Aug 2016100.3100.2
Sep 2016100.297.8
Oct 2016100.299.1
Nov 2016100.3103.4
Dec 2016100.4104.3
Jan 2017100.7102.8
Feb 201799.6102
Mar 201799.9104.7
Apr 201799.9105.1
May 2017100.1105.3
Jun 2017100.2101.9
Jul 2017100.3100.8
Aug 2017100.399.6
Sep 2017100.599
Oct 2017100.491.8
Nov 201798.297.8
Dec 201798.3104.9
Jan 201898.6103.8
Feb 201898.7103.2
Mar 201898.6101.6
Apr 201898.8100.8
May 201898.5101.6
Table 1 Manufacturing Industries Output Price Indices (excluding VAT)
 Base: Year 2015 = 100
PeriodManufacturing Industries Output Price Index Manufacturing Industries Output Price Index (Home Sales) Manufacturing Industries Output Price Index (Export Sales)
Price Index% Change on preceding periodAnnual % change Price Index% Change on Preceding Period Price Index% Change on Preceding Period
2015Year100.0-- 100.0- 100.0-
2016Year100.40.40.4 100.40.4 100.40.4
2017Year101.20.80.8 99.9-0.5 101.30.9
           
2015Quarter 198.7-- 99.9- 98.7-
 Quarter 2100.61.9- 99.90.0 100.61.9
 Quarter 399.5-1.1- 100.20.3 99.4-1.2
 Quarter 4101.21.7- 100.1-0.1 101.31.9
           
2016Quarter 1100.7-0.52.0 99.6-0.5 100.7-0.6
 Quarter 299.6-1.1-1.0 101.11.5 99.5-1.2
 Quarter 399.3-0.3-0.2 100.6-0.5 99.2-0.3
 Quarter 4102.22.91.0 100.3-0.3 102.33.1
           
2017Quarter 1103.00.82.3 100.1-0.2 103.20.9
 Quarter 2103.90.94.3 100.10.0 104.10.9
 Quarter 399.8-3.90.5 100.40.3 99.8-4.1
 Quarter 498.2-1.6-3.9 99.0-1.4 98.2-1.6
           
2018Quarter 1102.74.6-0.3 98.6-0.4 102.94.8
           
2015January96.6-- 100.1- 96.5-
 February98.62.1- 99.6- 98.6-
 March100.92.3- 99.9- 100.9-
 April102.21.3- 99.8- 102.3-
 May100.0-2.2- 100.0- 100.0-
 June99.6-0.4- 99.9- 99.6-
 July99.60.0- 100.0- 99.6-
 August100.00.4- 100.3- 100.0-
 September98.8-1.2- 100.2- 98.7-
 October96.6-2.2- 100.0- 96.4-
November103.67.2- 100.1- 103.8-
 December103.4-0.2- 100.1- 103.6-
           
2016January101.2-2.14.8 100.0-0.1 101.2-2.3
 February100.9-0.32.3 99.1-0.9 101.0-0.2
 March99.9-1.0-1.0 99.60.5 99.9-1.1
 April99.3-0.6-2.8 101.01.4 99.3-0.6
 May100.20.90.2 101.10.1 100.10.8
 June99.3-0.9-0.3 101.20.1 99.2-0.9
 July99.70.40.1 101.20.0 99.60.4
 August100.20.50.2 100.3-0.9 100.20.6
 September97.9-2.3-0.9 100.2-0.1 97.8-2.4
October99.21.32.7 100.20.0 99.11.3
November103.34.1-0.3 100.30.1 103.44.3
 December104.10.80.7 100.40.1 104.30.9
         
2017January102.7-1.31.5 100.70.3 102.8-1.4
February101.9-0.81.0 99.6-1.1 102.0-0.8
March104.52.64.6 99.90.3 104.72.6
 April 104.90.45.6 99.90.0 105.10.4
 May105.00.14.8 100.10.2 105.30.2
 June101.9-3.02.6 100.20.1 101.9-3.2
 July100.8-1.11.1 100.30.1 100.8-1.1
 August99.6-1.2-0.6 100.30.0 99.6-1.2
 September99.0-0.61.1 100.50.2 99.0-0.6
 October92.1-7.0-7.2 100.4-0.1 91.8-7.3
 November97.86.2-5.3 98.2-2.2 97.86.5
 December104.67.00.5 98.30.1 104.97.3
         
2018January103.6-1.00.9 98.60.3 103.8-1.0
 February103.0-0.61.1 98.70.1 103.2-0.6
 March101.5-1.5-2.9 98.6-0.1 101.6-1.6
 April100.7-0.8-4.0 98.80.2 100.8-0.8
 May101.50.8-3.3 98.5-0.3 101.60.8
Table 2 Industrial Producer Price Indices (excluding VAT)
Base: Year 2015 = 100
Industrial sector         Index Monthly % Change Annual % Change
NACE code1  
Apr 2018May 2018 Mar 2018Apr 2018May 2018 May 2018
  
Food Products1099.098.7 -1.0-1.9-0.3 -6.2
       Meat and meat products10199.399.0 0.91.0-0.3 -3.7
       Fish and fish products102116.6120.7 0.2-0.23.5 4.6
       Fruit and vegetables10395.198.1 0.00.63.2 3.7
       Vegetable and animal oils and fats10494.092.1 -2.32.0-2.0 -6.2
       Dairy products105119.9118.4 -3.91.4-1.3 1.8
       Grain milling, starches and animal feeds106,10983.176.9 -9.4-8.4-7.5 -22.5
       Bakery and farinaceous products10793.893.5 0.41.2-0.3 0.5
       Other food products10896.096.3 -0.6-3.60.3 -8.2
Beverages1193.293.1 0.00.1-0.1 -7.3
Tobacco Products12** *** *
Textiles13100.6100.6 0.00.10.0 0.4
Wearing apparel14106.8106.8 0.00.00.0 6.4
Leather and leather products (incl. footwear); dressing and dyeing of fur1599.999.9 0.00.00.0 0.0
Wood and wood products16100.3104.1 1.70.53.8 10.3
Pulp, paper and paper products1793.593.7 0.50.30.2 1.6
Printing and reproduction of recorded media1896.996.3 0.20.7-0.6 0.0
Coke and refined petroleum products19** *** *
Chemicals and chemical products2098.998.9 0.10.00.0 -0.1
Basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations21** *** *
Rubber and plastic products2291.590.8 -4.3-0.8-0.8 -5.3
Other non-metallic mineral products2394.295.6 1.5-1.81.5 -0.6
Basic metals2499.6101.4 -0.10.71.8 0.8
Fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment2596.796.2 0.21.4-0.5 0.1
Computer, electronic and optical products26** *** *
Electrical equipment2780.079.8 -0.1-0.1-0.3 -7.4
Machinery and equipment n.e.c.28** *** *
Motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers29107.8107.8 0.00.00.0 2.9
Other transport equipment30109.0109.1 0.00.10.1 5.5
Furniture 3197.094.8 -5.0-5.7-2.3 -8.3
Other Manufacturing32** *** *
Repair and Installation of machinery and equipment33** *** *
Mining and quarrying05-0993.590.6 -8.7-8.4-3.1 -17.1
  
Total transportable goods industries 100.7101.5 -1.5-0.80.8 -3.4
  
Food products, Beverages and Tobacco Products10-1298.398.0 -1.0-1.8-0.3 -6.4
Manufacturing industries excluding Food Products  101.0101.9 -1.6-0.50.9 -3.0
Manufacturing Industries excluding Food Products, Beverages and Tobacco Products 101.1102.1 -1.5-0.61.0 -2.9
Intermediate goods industries (except energy) ** *** *
Capital goods industries ** *** *
Durable consumer goods industries ** *** *
Non-durable consumer goods industries ** *** *
          
Manufacturing industries (home sales)2 98.898.5 -0.10.2-0.3 -1.6
Manufacturing industries (export sales)2 100.8101.6 -1.6-0.80.8 -3.5
Total manufacturing industries2 100.7101.5 -1.5-0.80.8 -3.3
1 Nace Rev. 2 Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community.
2 Excludes Mining and quarrying.
* Data suppressed for confidentiality reasons.
Table 2A Contribution to changes in the Manufacturing Output Price Index, May 2018 (Table 2)
Industrial sectorNACE code 1 Contribution to overall % change2
One monthTwelve months
Food Products10 -0.04-0.82
       Meat and meat products101 -0.01-0.12
       Fish and fish products102 0.010.01
       Fruit and vegetables103 0.000.00
       Vegetable and animal oils and fats104 0.000.00
       Dairy products105 -0.020.03
       Grain milling, starches and animal feeds106,109 -0.04-0.14
       Bakery and farinaceous products107 0.000.00
       Other food products108 0.02-0.60
Beverages11 0.00-0.11
Tobacco Products12  **
Textiles13 0.000.00
Wearing apparel14 0.000.00
Leather and leather products (incl. footwear); dressing and dyeing of fur15 0.000.00
Wood and wood products16 0.010.03
Pulp, paper and paper products17 0.000.00
Printing and reproduction of recorded media18 0.000.00
Coke and refined petroleum products19 **
Chemicals and chemical products20 0.000.00
Basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations21 **
Rubber and plastic products22 -0.01-0.04
Other non-metallic mineral products23 0.010.00
Basic metals24 0.010.00
Fabricated metal products, except Machinery and equipment25 0.000.00
Computer, electronic and optical products26 **
Electrical equipment27 0.00-0.04
Machinery and Equipment n.e.c.28 **
Motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers29 0.000.01
Other transport equipment30 0.000.00
Furniture 31 0.00-0.01
Other Manufacturing32 **
Repair and Installation of machinery and equipment33 **
Mining and quarrying05-09 -0.01-0.05
1 Nace Rev. 2 Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community.
2 See Background Notes.
* Data suppressed for confidentiality reasons
Table 3 Detailed Wholesale Price Indices (excluding VAT) for Building and Construction Materials
Base: Year 2015 = 100
MaterialsIndex Monthly % Change  Annual % Change
   
Apr 2018May 2018 Mar 2018Apr 2018May 2018  May 2018
   
Stone, sand and gravel113.8115.0 0.0-2.71.1  -2.0
       Stone112.9115.1 -0.2-0.71.9  -0.3
       Sand and gravel118.2114.5 1.1-11.2-3.1  -10.3
Cement108.4108.4 0.00.00.0  3.8
Ready mixed mortar and concrete101.9100.4 2.1-2.4-1.5  -0.6
Concrete blocks and bricks100.9101.2 1.0-3.00.3  -1.7
Other concrete products101.5101.5 0.00.00.0  1.9
       Precast concrete109.5109.5 0.00.00.0  4.9
       Other concrete products (Excluding precast concrete)99.299.2 0.00.00.0  0.5
Structural steel and reinforcing metal111.3111.3 0.10.20.0  2.3
       Structural steel116.1116.1 0.00.10.0  2.2
              Fabricated metal117.5117.5 0.00.20.0  1.9
              Other Structural steel105.0105.0 0.00.10.0  5.3
       Reinforcing metal104.0104.0 0.20.50.0  2.7
       Other steel products100.8103.4 0.01.92.6  4.7
Rough timber (including plain sawn)105.4105.5 0.00.00.1  3.9
       Hardwood100.4100.4 0.00.00.0  0.0
       Other106.1106.1 0.00.00.0  4.3
Other timber99.199.1 0.00.10.0  1.1
       Windows and doors102.3102.3 0.00.10.0  2.0
       Other95.395.3 0.00.00.0  0.0
Bituminous macadam, asphalt and bituminous emulsions104.5106.6 1.7-3.42.0  1.8
       Bituminous macadam and asphalt104.6106.7 1.8-3.52.0  1.6
       Bituminous emulsions100.6101.5 -0.70.00.9  4.4
Electrical fittings104.0104.1 0.11.00.1  1.5
       Lighting equipment107.5107.5 0.00.00.0  0.0
       Protection & communication equipment 102.1102.1 0.00.80.0  0.9
All other materials104.9105.1 0.00.40.2  0.6
       Plumbing materials incl. sanitary ware102.4102.4 0.00.00.0  1.5
       HVAC (heating & ventilation equipment) 102.1102.1 0.00.00.0  -0.2
       Insulating materials100.8100.8 0.00.00.0  -1.2
       Pipes and fittings104.7105.9 0.31.21.1  4.1
              PVC105.8108.7 1.01.12.7  3.8
              Copper104.4105.0 0.01.40.6  4.3
       Plaster112.2112.2 0.10.00.0  6.7
       Paints, oils and varnishes109.8109.8 0.10.90.0  7.9
       Glass116.8116.8 0.00.00.0  0.0
       All other metal fittings105.1105.1 0.00.00.0  0.0
       All other products105.5105.5 0.10.10.0  -1.4
All materials105.3105.3 0.3-0.40.0  0.6
Table 4 Capital Goods Price Indices (excluding VAT)
Base: Year 2015 = 100
Capital goodsIndex Monthly % ChangeAnnual % Change
Apr 2018May 2018 Mar 2018Apr 2018May 2018 May 2018
  
Transportable capital for use in        
              Agriculture103.7103.7 0.01.40.0 2.5
              Industry103.7103.6 0.30.1-0.1 1.0
        of which:        
              Private vehicles1101.8102.0 0.00.00.2 0.9
              Commercial vehicles101.7101.3 0.00.4-0.4 0.3
Agriculture and industry103.7103.7 0.30.30.0 1.3
Other sectors103.6103.5 0.30.2-0.1 1.1
Total transportable capital103.6103.6 0.30.20.0 1.2
Building and construction105.8105.8 0.22.70.0 3.3
(i.e. materials and wages)        
         
All capital goods105.4105.4 0.32.20.0 2.9
1 Private vehicles are inclusive of VAT which is non-deductible for industry and agriculture.
Table 5 Wholesale Price Indices (excluding VAT) for Energy Products
(i.e. Fuels purchased by Manufacturing Industry)
Base: Year 2015 = 100
Energy fuelsIndex Monthly % Change Annual % Change
Apr 2018May 2018 Mar 2018Apr 2018May 2018 May 2018
  
Petrol103.1106.0 0.03.32.8 5.7
Autodiesel104.4107.4 0.73.22.9 8.3
Gas oil (other than autodiesel)105.4109.1 0.93.33.5 11.1
Fuel oil109.3113.9 0.63.74.2 10.8
Electricity104.8107.5 10.1-15.32.6 38.5
         
Petroleum fuels1107.3111.4 0.63.53.8 10.1
Energy products105.6108.8 7.1-9.83.0 27.3
1 Energy products excluding electricity.

Background Notes

Wholesale Price Index        

The term Industrial Producer Price Index refers to a family of indices that measure the average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers of goods and services. The other three wholesale price index series incorporate imported and home produced goods sold by manufacturers and wholesale outlets.

Coverage

The output price indices for sectors of Manufacturing Industries cover both home sales and export sales.  The Indices for Total transportable goods industries; Food, drink and tobacco; Manufacturing industries excluding food; Manufacturing industries excluding food, drink and tobacco; Intermediate goods industries (except energy); Capital goods industries; Durable consumer goods industries; Non-durable consumer goods industries; Manufacturing industries (home sales); Manufacturing industries (export sales) and Total manufacturing industries are all calculated on a net sector basis, i.e. the weights used to combine the sectoral indices (including those for sectors not distinguished in Table 2) exclude sales to other sectors of Manufacturing Industry.

Table 2A gives the percentage contribution of each sector (including those not published on Table 2) to the overall percentage change on Table 2. The percentage contributions on Table 2A may not add up to the Total Manufacturing industries percentage change on Table 2 due to rounding and other adjustments for presentational purposes.  In comparing these contributions against these percentage changes in indices presented on Table 2 caution should be exercised as the former is calculated on a net sector basis.

The Building Materials, Capital Goods and Energy Products indices (Tables 3, 4 and 5) cover home production and imports of these commodities.  Table 3, the Wholesale Price Index for Building and Construction Materials, provides only a general indication of price trends in that sector.  Actual transaction prices are collected for materials purchased by construction and civil engineering firms. The price indices reflect an ‘average’ over a mixture of products from many companies throughout the country.  They also reflect prices for both long-term and short-term contracts and for high and low volume civil engineering works. It should be noted that long-term, high volume fixed contracts for major works might dilute in the short-term the impact of emerging price changes on the index.  Furthermore, industry sources have confirmed that price increases notified by companies may not always be achieved in practice following negotiations. Much depends on the prevailing market conditions. Therefore changes over the short-term in the indices derived from these transaction prices will not always coincide with price changes notified by companies.

Prices

All indices in the series are based on prices at the 15th of the month. Quarterly and annual indices are simple averages of the corresponding monthly indices.

Prices used in the compilation of the indices are:

  • excluding delivery charges itemised on the invoice separately
  • after discounts or surcharges are applied
  • before addition of direct subsidies
  • exclusive of VAT (except for private vehicles used in Table 4)
  • inclusive of excise duty

Every effort is made by the Wholesale Prices Section to collect all prices for the relevant month. Where this is not possible late prices are included in the following month’s calculations.

Methodology

This Wholesale Price Index series is compiled to base 2015 = 100. A methodological description of this updated series is given in the Wholesale Price Index Introduction to Series 2015=100 (1) (PDF 468KB)

Calculating percentage changes in the index

The movement of the output price indices is expressed as percentage change, rather than a change in index points, because index point changes are affected by the level of the index in relation to its base period, whereas percentage changes are not.

The example below illustrates the computation of a percentage change:

Percentage change calculation  
Current index  105.6
Less previous index  102.1
Equals in index points   3.5
Divided by the previous index   102.1
Equals   0.0343
Results multiplied by 100   0.0343 x 100
Equals percentage change   3.4

Alternatively, users may calculate a percentage change by dividing the current index by the previous index, multiplying by 100 and then subtracting 100.

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