In April 2009 compared with March 2009, the industrial producer price index fell by 1.0% in the euro area (EA16) and by 1.1% in the EU27. In March, prices decreased by 0.7% and 0.5% respectively. In April 2009 compared with April 2008, industrial producer prices dropped by 4.6% in the euro area and by 3.9% in the EU27.

Monthly changes
In April 2009, compared with the previous month, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector fell by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27. Prices in the energy sector decreased by 3.0% and 3.5% respectively. In both zones, intermediate goods declined by 0.6%, while durable consumer goods and non-durable consumer goods decreased by 0.1%. Capital goods dropped by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU27.

Among Member States for which data are available, the highest decreases in the total index were recorded in Malta (-11.1%), the Netherlands (-2.5%) and Germany (-1.4%). The only increases were registered in Ireland (+0.7%), Greece (+0.3%) and Finland (+0.1%), while the index remained stable in Slovenia.

Annual changes
In April 2009, compared with April 2008, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector decreased by 2.4% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU27. Prices in the energy sector fell by 11.1% and 7.2% respectively. Intermediate goods declined by 5.2% in the euro area and by 3.9% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods dropped by 1.8% and 0.5% respectively. Capital goods rose by 1.2% in the euro area and 1.8% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods gained 1.5% and 2.2% respectively.

Among Member States for which data are available, the largest falls in the total index were observed in the Netherlands (-10.4%), Greece (-7.8%), Denmark and France (both -6.4%), and the only increases in Malta (+22.6%), Hungary and Romania (both +2.5%), Sweden (+1.0%) and Slovenia (+0.2%).