BULGARIAN PRODUCER PRICES GREW 13.8% Y/Y IN FEBRUARY 2011

Producer prices in Bulgaria increased by 13.8 per cent on an annual basis in February 2011 after a 12.1 per cent rise the previous month, the National Statistics Institute (NSI) said on March 30.

In monthly terms, prices climbed by 1.6 per cent in February against 1.7 per cent in January.

Prices of producers selling on the domestic market grew by 1.1 per cent month-on-month and by 12.5 per cent compared with February 2010.

Producer prices in the mining sector and the processing industry went up by 2.6 per cent and 1.4 per cent on the month, respectively, while prices for gas, electricity and heating energy generation and distribution remained unchanged.

Food producer prices rose by 3.3 per cent, while prices of tobacco and chemical products increased by a respective 2.8 per cent and 3.6 per cent.

The most significant annual increase was registered in prices of metal producers, of 31.3 per cent, followed by a 13.7 per cent in the food industry and 10.5 per cent in the textile sector, excluding clothing. In tobacco production, prices declined 10.5 per cent.