Swiss producer and import price index fell by 0.2% in August

The Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the Producer and Import Price Index fell in August 2019 by 0.2% compared with the previous month, reaching 101.4 points (December 2015 = 100). The decline is due in particular to lower prices for rubber and plastic products as well as basic metals and semi-finished metal products. Compared with August 2018, the price level of the whole range of domestic and imported products fell by 1.9%.

The decline in the producer price index compared with the previous month was mainly due to lower prices for waste collection and recovery, mineral oil products, metals and metal semi-finished products, paper and paper products and plastic products. Rising prices were observed for paints, printing ink and mastics chemicals, pharmaceutical raw materials, raw milk, and other chemical products.

Lower prices compared with July 2019 were recorded in the import price index, in particular for chemical raw materials, rubber and plastic products, metals and metal semi-finished products, and paper and paper products. Price declines were also seen in computers, wood products, basic pharmaceutical products, vegetables and potatoes. However, citrus fruits became more expensive.