(Eurostat) Producer prices increased by 5.3% in the euro area in March from February, and 5.4% in the EU. The producer prices had increased by 1.1% in both regions in February.
The energy sector was the main contributor to the jump in producer prices in the euro area in March, with an increase of 11.1%. The prices rose by 2.8% and 2.4% in the intermediate goods and non-durable consumer goods, respectively.
In the EU, the energy sector also led the price gains, with an increase of 11.6% in March, followed by the intermediate goods at 2.6%. Non-durable consumer goods came third with an increase of 1.0%.
Excluding energy, the producer prices rose by 2.1% in the euro area in March and were up by 2.3% in the EU.
The highest gains in industrial producer prices were in Ireland, Greece, and Portugal. Declines were noted the largest in Slovakia, while the prices remained unchanged in Malta.
On a year-over-year basis, the industrial prices rose by 36.8% and 36.5% in the euro area and EU, respectively, in March.
DAX is down -0.052%, EURUSD is up +0.43%
