Export and import price indices - February

In February 2009, export prices increased by 3.7% and import prices grew by 3.3%, month-on-month. Year-on-year, export prices increased by 8.3% and import prices grew by 4.5%. The terms of trade figures reached 100.4%, m-o-m, and 103.6% y-o-y.
Month-on-month comparison:

- Exports : export prices increased by 3.7% in February (2.3% in January), especially due to notable weakening of the Czech crown to Euro and US Dollar. The growth of the total m-o-m export price index came mainly from a 4.6% price increase in ‘machinery and transport equipment’. Among sections important in terms of weight, price growths were recorded in ‘miscellaneous manufactured articles‘ (+4.1%) and ‘chemicals’ (+3.6%). Lower were only prices in ‘crude materials, inedible, except fuels’ (-2.7%).

- Imports: Import prices increased by 3.3% (+1.6% in January). The growth of the total m-o-m import price index was driven mainly by a 4.4% increase in prices of 'machinery and transport equipment’. Significant price increase was recorded for ‘miscellaneous manufactured articles’ and 'mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials' (both +3.7%) and for ‘chemicals’ (+2.6%). Prices were growing in other observed sections, too.

- The terms of trade figures reached 100.4% in February (100.7% in January). The highest positive terms of trade figures were recorded for 'mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials' (102.3%) and ‘chemicals’ (101.0%). The terms of trade figures of 'machinery and transport equipment' stood at 100.2%. By contrast, the lowest values among important sections were recorded for ‘crude materials, inedible, except fuels’ (96,0%) and ‘food and live animals’ (99.8%).

Year-on-year comparison:

- Exports: export prices increased by 8.3% in February (+3.3% in January). Among important sections higher were prices in ‘manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials’ by 12.8%, ‘miscellaneous manufactured articles’ by 10.0% and prices in 'machinery and transport equipment' grew by 9,8%. By contrast, more marked price drops were recorded for ‘crude materials, inedible, except fuels’ (-18.7%) and ‘food and live animals’ (-8.3%).

- Imports: for the first time after eighteen months import prices increased in February by 4.5% (100.0% in January). The growth of the total y-o-y import price index was mainly affected by a 8.5% price increase in 'machinery and transport equipment’. Among sections important in terms of weight, the biggest price growths were recorded in ’crude materials, inedible, except fuels’ (+20.0%) and ‘miscellaneous manufactured articles’ (+11.4%). By contrast, price decreases were observed only in 'mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials' (-13,6 %).

- The terms of trade figures reached 103.6% in February (103.3% in January). Higher values of the terms of trade figures were recorded for ‘mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials' (124.8%) and ‘manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials’ (109.0%). The terms of trade figures of ‘machinery and transport equipment’ stood at 101.2%. By contrast, negative values were recorded for ‘crude materials, inedible, except fuels’ (67.8%) and ‘food and live animals’ (84.3%).

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Note:
Contact: Vladimír Klimeš, phone (+420) 274 054 102, e-mail: vladimir.klimes@csu.gov.cz
Data source: CZSO survey
End of data collection: Last calendar day of the month
End of data processing: Import and export price indices: 15th calendar day after next month
Related publications: 7201-09 Import and Export Price Indices in the Czech Republic
Detailed (Internet: /produkty/export-and-import-price-indices-in-the-czech-republic-2009-2sc5fdjbfg )
The data released are final.