Slovak Retail Sales Decline For Second Month

Retail sales in Slovakia decreased for the second consecutive month in September, data released by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic showed Wednesday. news.instaforex.com »

2013-11-06 17:42

Polish Manufacturing Sector Expands For Fourth Month

Poland's manufacturing sector expanded for the fourth consecutive month in October, helped mainly by strong growth in export orders, survey data released by Markit Economics and HSBC Bank showed Monday.

The seasonally adjusted purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector rose to 53.4 in October from 53.1 in September. The index increased to the highest level since April 2011, and stayed above the no-change 50 mark for the fourth month in a row.

The upturn was driven primarily by a stronger increase in new orders, with export order growth climbing to a two-and-half year high. Export orders rose for the fifth month running in October.

In line with the rise in new business, manufacturing production rose for the fourth straight month, and at a historically strong rate. Manufacturers raised their workforces for the third consecutive month, in order to handle the increased workload.

Input price inflation faced by Polish goods producers rose to a 16-month high in October as firms reported higher prices for paper and rising tax burdens. Meanwhile, output prices decreased for the eleventh straight month.

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2013-11-04 12:42

German Import Prices Continue To Fall

Germany's import prices decreased for the ninth successive month in September, and the rate of fall matched economists' forecast, latest data showed Thursday.

The import price index decreased 2.8 percent in September from the same month of last year, marking the ninth fall in a row, the Federal Statistical Office said. The outcome matched economists' forecast. In August, prices had declined 3.4 percent.

Contributing to the decline of the headline index, energy prices fell 6.3 percent annually, and metal costs declined 9.7 percent.

Import prices, excluding petroleum and petroleum products, were lower by 2.3 percent than in September 2012, data showed.

Sequentially, import prices stayed unchanged in September, after rising 0.1 percent in August. Expectations were for a 0.1 percent rise in September.

The statistical office further noted that Germany's export prices decreased 1 percent year-on-year in September, as they did in August. On a month-on-month basis, export prices stayed flat for the second straight month in September.

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2013-10-31 12:42

European Economics Preview: U.K. Retail Sales Data Due

Retail sales data from the U.K. is the main news due from Europe on Thursday, headlining a light day for European economic news.

At 3.30 am ET, Dutch statistical office is scheduled to release the unemployment figures for September. The jobless rate is tipped to rise to 8.7 percent from 8.6 percent recorded a month earlier. Statistics Sweden is also due to publish the job market data at 3.30 am ET.

The European Central Bank is slated to release the Eurozone's current account balance for August at 4 am ET.

The Office for National Statistics is due to announce retail sales statistics at 4.30 am ET. Sales, including auto fuel, is forecast to increase 0.4 percent month-on-month in September.

At 5 am ET, Eurozone construction output data from Eurostat is due. Producer price figures from Portugal is expected at 6 am ET.

Poland's central bank is scheduled to release the minutes of its October monetary policy meeting at 8 am ET.

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2013-10-17 11:42

Spain's Trade Shortfall Narrows Sharply In July

Spain's merchandise trade deficit declined significantly in July, supported by strong growth in exports, data released by the Commerce Ministry showed Friday.

Net trade for the month resulted in a deficit of EUR786.7 million, which was lower by 53.5 percent than in the same month of 2012.

Export of goods increased 1.3 percent annually to EUR19.86 billion during the month, and reached the highest level since records began. Shipments to the non-Eurozone destinations advanced 8.2 percent, while dispatches to the Eurozone decreased by 4.7 percent.

Meanwhile, the value of imports decreased by 3 percent year-on-year to EUR20.65 billion in July, the agency said.

During the first seven months of 2013, exports climbed 7 percent from the same period of last year, while imports dropped 3.1 percent. The outcome was an year-on-year fall in trade deficit by 67.5 percent to EUR6.61 billion.

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2013-09-20 17:42

German Industrial Production Rebound Signals Faster Recovery

Germany's industrial production recovered at a faster-than-expected pace in June, suggesting that the sector has likely emerged from a recent phase of lackluster activity. The strong pick up shows that the economic recovery that started in the beginning of the year has gathered momentum.

Production at German factories increased a seasonally adjusted 2.4 percent month-on-month in June, more than offsetting the previous month's revised 0.8 percent decrease, a report from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology showed Wednesday. Economists had forecast output to rise 0.3 percent, following May's originally recorded 1 percent fall.

Among industrial sub-sectors, output of capital goods climbed 4.1 percent and consumer goods production advanced 1.1 percent, contributing significantly to the overall upturn in activity. The intermediate goods sector recorded a 0.6 percent gain.

Production, excluding the construction sector, rose 2.2 percent sequentially during the month. Construction output rose 1.6 percent, and energy production was higher by 5 percent than in May.

Compared to June 2012, industrial production advanced a working-day adjusted 2 percent, after recording a 1.2 percent decrease in May, which was revised down from a 1 percent contraction. Production was forecast to fall 0.3 percent year-on-year.

During the May-June period, industrial output moved up 1.3 percent from preceding two months ended April. There was a 0.5 percent year-on-year growth in output during the period.

According to the report, that sentiment indicators for the German industrial sector suggest that the current positive trend in production will continue in the coming months.

Today's outcome corroborates the government data, which came out yesterday, showing that new orders in the German manufacturing sector grew at the fastest pace in eight months in June, driven mainly by strong demand for big-ticket items.

In a sign that German factory sector has overcome its weakness, a recent survey compiled by Markit Economics showed that the manufacturing purchasing managers' index climbed to an 18-month high in July, supported by rising volumes of new work and higher production levels.

Reinforcing the upbeat outlook for the German industrial sector, survey data released by the Ifo Institute last month revealed that confidence among entrepreneurs rose for a third consecutive month in July.

The recent improvement in Germany's job market is also reflective of the upturn in industrial activity. In June, a statement from the Federal labor agency showed that the number of unemployed in the country declined for a second consecutive month in July.

The Bundesbank last month said it expects Germany's economic growth to weaken in the third quarter, following the second quarter's recovery. Earlier, the bank had lowered its growth outlook for this year to 0.3 percent from 0.4 percent. The economy is seen growing 1.5 percent in 2014.

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2013-08-07 17:42

Slovenia Inflation Soars In July

Slovenia's inflation rose sharply in July to its highest level in five months, data released by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia showed on Wednesday.

Inflation based on the consumer price index acclerated to 2.6 percent in June from 1.9 percent in May. The rate rose for the second straight month and was the highest since February's 2.7 percent.

Month-on-month, consumer prices declined 0.3 percent, after remaining stable in the previous month.

The harmonized index of consumer prices rose 2.8 percent year-on-year, following a 2.2 percent increase in May.

On a monthly basis, the HICP dropped 0.3 percent in June and stood stable in May, data showed.

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2013-07-31 17:35

Slovenia's Unemployment Rate Drops To 13% In May

Slovenia's unemployment rate decreased from the previous month in June, data released by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia showed Tuesday.

The unemployment rate decreased to 13 percent in May from 13.3 percent in April. In May 2013, the jobless rate was 11.7 percent. Since February this year, the unemployment rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points.

There were 118,576 unemployed persons in Slovenia at the end of May, which was lower than 121,332 recorded in the previous month.

The jobless rate among youth, aged between 15 and 24, was 28.3 percent in May, lower than 29.1 percent recorded a month earlier.

At the same time, the number of persons in employment increased by around 2,400 month-on-month to 795,402 in May, continuing the trend began at the beginning of the year. The upturn was led by a notable rise in headcounts in the construction sector, data showed.

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2013-07-16 19:00

Japan April CPI 0.3%

Japan's inflation rate remained stable in April.

The Ministry of Finance reported Friday that the national core consumer price index rose 0.3 percent in April, matching the 0.3 percent rise in March.

for the full year to April, Core CPI was down 0.4 percent.

Overall CPI was up 0.3 percent on month and down 0.7 percent on year, the Ministry said.

For the Tokyo metropolitan region, overall CPI was down 0.2 percent on month.

Tokyo core CPI was up 0.1 percent on month.

news.instaforex.com »

2013-05-31 05:47

Modest Gain In Eurozone PMI Revives Recovery Hopes

An indicator of Eurozone's private sector activity improved more than expected in May, renewing hopes that the economy is inching towards a recovery. Nonetheless, the indicator remained in negative territory, signaling sharp deterioration in overall business activity.

The composite output index, which measures the performance of the both manufacturing and service sectors, rose to a three-month high of 47.7 in May from 46.9 in April, flash results of a survey by Markit Economics showed Thursday.

Readings below 50 indicates contraction in activity. Economists had predicted an increase in the index to 47.2.

New orders across the private sector fell sharply again in May and for the twenty-second successive month. The rate of decline was unchanged from that seen in April, Markit said.

The modest improvement in May raises hopes that overall Eurozone economic activity is inching towards stabilization, said Howard Archer, Chief European and UK Economist at IHS Global Insight.

"It is worrying to see that the decline in new orders was unchanged at a significant level in May, so a seventh successive quarter of Eurozone GDP decline, albeit modest, remains very possible in the second quarter," Archer said.

The purchasing managers' index, a gauge of activity in the manufacturing sector, rose to 47.8 from April's score of 46.7. This was forecast to rise to 47. The manufacturing output index rose to a four-month high of 48.2 from 46.5 in April.

The services activity index edged up to 47.5 in May from 47 in the previous month, while expectations were for a modest increase to 47.2.

Eurozone's economic downturn eased in the first quarter with the gross domestic product falling at a slower pace of 0.2 percent quarter-on-quarter.

In May, the European Commission cut its economic forecast for euro area and said the economy will contract 0.4 percent in 2013. The economy is expected to start recovering from its record-long recession in 2014.

"May's euro-zone PMI survey adds to the recent run of slightly more encouraging news from the region, but there is little sign that the region is about to emerge from recession," said Ben May, an economist at Capital Economics.

Earlier in the month, the European Central Bank reduced the main refinancing rate by 25 basis points to a record low 0.50 percent to support the economy. ECB Chief Mario Draghi has said that the monetary policy will remain accommodative "as long as needed."

Markit said that the employment at Eurozone's private sector firms fell for the seventeenth consecutive month, with the rate of job losses rising to the highest since February.

The survey found strong divergences between the region's two largest economies. Business activity declined for a second successive month in Germany, but the downturn was only very marginal. Meanwhile, a steep rate of decline in French activity was reported in May.

news.instaforex.com »

2013-05-23 16:28

Spain's April Inflation Eases Notably As Estimated

Spain's harmonized inflation fell to 1.5 percent annually in April from 2.6 percent in March, final data from the statistical office INE revealed Tuesday. The annual rate matched flash estimate published on April 29.

At the same time, consumer price inflation eased to 1.4 percent, in line with flash estimate, from 2.4 percent a month ago.

The cost of communication logged the biggest annual fall of 4 percent annually, followed by a 0.7 percent drop in transportation. All other sub-components of CPI registered increases, with health and education rising 13 percent and 10.4 percent, respectively.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages prices rose by a moderate 2.6 percent and clothing and footwear by 0.2 percent.

Month-on-month, the harmonized index of consumer prices edged up 0.1 percent in April. The consumer price index gained 0.4 percent again, as seen in March.

news.instaforex.com »

2013-05-14 12:42

German Inflation Weakens More Than Expected In April

Germany's EU harmonized inflation eased more than economists expected in April, latest data showed Monday.

Inflation as per the harmonized index of consumer prices (HICP) slowed sharply to 1.1 percent in April from 1.8 percent in March, the Federal Statistical Office said. Economists had forecast a much slower deceleration to 1.7 percent.

Sequentially, the HICP decreased 0.5 percent in April, after rising 0.4 percent in the previous month. It was expected to drop 0.1 percent.

At the same time, the consumer price index increased 1.2 percent year-on-year in April, slower than the 1.4 percent gain seen in March. Economists were looking for an annual growth of 1.4 percent.

Consumer prices decreased 0.5 percent compared to March, when they increased by 0.5 percent. Economists expected prices to drop 0.2 percent month-on-month.

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2013-04-29 17:42

Denmark Retail Sales Decline, Consumer Confidence Weakens

Danish retail sales declined in March largely due to the decrease in clothing sales turnover, Statistics Denmark said Monday. Consumer confidence deteriorated for the second consecutive month in April. news.instaforex.com »

2013-04-22 12:42

Australia Consumer Sentiment Highest Since December 2010

Confidence among Australian consumers rose to its highest level in more than two years in March with the effects of the past interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank becoming more visible.

A survey by Westpac and the Melbourne Institute showed Wednesday that the consumer sentiment index rose 2 percent in March to 110.5 from 108.3 in February. This is the highest level of the index since December 2010.

"This is a strong result," Westpac's Chief Economist Bill Evans said. It is the fifth consecutive month that the index has registered above 100, he noted.

Evans said that in recent months, the accumulation of the cuts appeared to be genuinely boosting confidence. Since October last year, the confidence index has increased 11.5 percent.

The Reserve Bank of Australia kept the cash rate unchanged at 3 percent in February and March, but said there is scope to ease policy further, if necessary, to support demand.

The central bank has reduced cash rate six times since it started its easing cycle in November 2011.

Also, "equity markets and the associated signals that global economic prospects are improving are the other key driver of this improved confidence," Evans said.

Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday showed that home loans declined unexpectedly in January. The number of dwelling commitments for owner occupied housing fell 1.5 percent month-on-month to 44,383.

Economists had forecast an increase of 0.5 percent following 2.1 percent fall in December. Lending has now declined for four consecutive months. Meanwhile, investment lending rose 4.4 percent from the previous month.

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2013-03-13 11:14

Brazil February Inflation Rises More Than Expected

Brazil's consumer price inflation accelerated more than economists expected in February, data released by statistical office IBGE showed Friday.

Inflation as per the consumer price index increased to 6.31 percent in February from 6.15 percent in January, while economists had forecast a more modest acceleration to 6.2 percent.

The consumer price index moved up 0.6 percent compared to January, when it rose by 0.86 percent. Economists were looking for a 0.49 percent gain, data showed.

Food and beverages prices rose at a slower pace of 1.45 percent month-on-month in February than 1.99 percent in the previous month. Housing costs dropped 2.38 percent, after falling 0.2 percent in January.

Transportation costs were higher by 0.81 percent from the previous month, and costs of wearing apparel up by 0.55 percent, data showed.

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2013-03-08 16:44

UK Output Price Inflation Slows In January

UK output price inflation eased to 2 percent in January from 2.2 percent in December, data released by the Office for National Statistics showed Tuesday.

On a monthly basis, the output price index rose 0.2 percent. Both the figures matched economists' forecasts.

Core producer price index, which exclude food, alcohol, tobacco and petroleum, rose 0.2 percent month-on-month.

Input prices increased 1.8 percent year-on-year in January, faster than a 0.5 percent increase in the previous month. This was also higher than the 1 percent rise expected by economists.

On a monthly basis, the input price index rose 1.3 percent, faster than the expected 0.9 percent increase.

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2013-02-12 14:15

U.S. Industrial Production Rises Slightly More Than Expected

Industrial production in the U. S. increased by slightly more than expected in the month of December, the Federal Reserve revealed in a report on Wednesday, with increased mining and manufacturing output more than offsetting a sharp drop in utilities output. news.instaforex.com »

2013-01-16 18:42

U.K. Inflation Remains Unchanged In December

U.K. inflation remained stable at above 2 percent target in December adding to the central bank's concerns about a fragile economy.

Consumer price inflation was 2.7 percent for the third month in a row, the Office for National Statistics said Tuesday. The rate also came in line with economists' expectations.

Monthly inflation for December was 0.5 percent, which was faster than the 0.2 percent rise in November, and matched economists' expectations.

Housing and utility costs kept inflation high in December, adding 0.26 percentage points. On the other hand, the largest downward pressure came from transport costs.

Core inflation that excludes energy, food, alcoholic beverages and tobacco, slowed to 2.4 percent in December from 2.6 percent a month ago.

IHS Global Insight Chief U.K. Economist Howard Archer said increased energy tariffs and higher food prices could push inflation up to 3 percent early in 2013 and keep it there for a while. Depending on food and oil prices, inflation will fall back later this year, he said.

As inflation is likely to stay close to the December rate in the near-term, it will push real pay down further this year, observed Vicky Redwood, an economist at Capital Economics.

The Bank of England is set to publish its latest inflation and growth forecasts on February 13. Policymakers maintained quantitative easing at GBP 375 billion last week and the key interest rate at a record low 0.50 percent.

Retail prices gained 3.1 percent from a year ago, while it was forecast to rise 3 percent as seen in November. Likewise, the retail price index excluding mortgage interest payments, climbed 3 percent after rising 2.9 percent in November.

The ONS last week said the current calculation of the Retail Price Index should be continued without major changes so that it would not affect payments on inflation-linked bonds.

A separate report from the ONS showed that factory gate inflation edged up to 2.2 percent in December from 2.1 percent in the previous month. It was forecast to accelerate to 2.4 percent.

Due to a fall in petroleum product prices, the output price index for home sales of manufactured products fell 0.1 percent, which was less than a fall of 0.3 percent in November.

At the same time, input prices gained 0.3 percent on year, reversing last month's 0.1 percent drop. Meanwhile, the index slipped 0.2 percent from a month ago.

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2013-01-15 16:25

Eurozone Industrial Output Falls For Third Month

Eurozone industrial production declined for the third consecutive month in November, confounding expectations for a recovery and signaled a severe downturn during the final quarter of 2012.

Industrial output slipped by 0.3 percent in November from a month ago, when it was down 1 percent, data published by Eurostat showed Monday. The decline was in contrast to a 0.2 percent rise forecast by economists.

On a yearly basis, industrial output decreased 3.7 percent, which was larger than the 3.3 percent decline logged in October and bigger than the expected 3.1 percent drop.

Intermediate goods production dropped at a slower pace of 0.3 percent, while the decline in production of energy accelerated to 1.6 percent. Only output of capital goods grew in November, up by 0.7 percent.

Non-durable consumer goods output declined 1.2 percent, offsetting the previous month's 1.2 percent growth.

Data showed that industrial production declined in sixteen member states and rose in five. Italy registered the biggest annual drop, down 7.6 percent. Meanwhile, Lithuania, Estonia and Malta registered strongest increases.

Capital Economics European Economist Ben May said the industrial sector is unlikely to kick start a recovery in the wider economy. So, expectations for a small decline in Eurozone GDP this year is too optimistic, the economist noted.

According to the purchasing managers' surveys for December, the downturn in the euro area eased, as the rate of contraction in economic output and new business slowed.

In December, the European Central Bank projected euro area GDP growth between -0.9 percent and 0.3 percent in 2013. The central bank expects a gradual recovery late this year.

At the same time, inflation is seen between 1.1 percent and 2.1 percent. At 2.2 percent, the current inflation rate remains above the ECB ceiling.

news.instaforex.com »

2013-01-14 16:34

Australia Inflation Gauge +0.4% In December - TD Securities

A gauge measuring inflation in Australia came in higher by 0.4 percent on month in December, TD Securities said on Monday - after easing 0.1 percent in November.

On a yearly basis, CPI was called higher by 2.4 percent, dipping from 2.5 percent in the previous month.

That keeps inflation within the Reserve Bank of Australia's comfort zone, after the central bank trimmed interest rates last month by 25 basis points or 3.00 percent.

The RBA does not meet in January and will not decide until February 5 whether or not to take any further action on rates.

"We are of the view that the cash rate should remain at the already record low of three percent," TD Securities head of Asia-Pacific research Annette Beacher said in a statement.

news.instaforex.com »

2013-01-14 03:48

Australia Retail Sales Post Surprise Fall

Australia's retail sales unexpectedly declined in November amid sharp reduction in sales at department stores and in household goods category, the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed Wednesday.

Retail sales fell 0.1 percent month-on-month to A$21.5 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis in November against expectations for a 0.3 percent growth. This followed a flat reading in October.

Sales of household goods declined 0.9 percent month-on-month in November and trade at department stores slipped 0.4 percent. There was zero growth in food retailing and 0.6 percent drop in clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing.

Retail sales in Australia continue to disappoint, following on from a soft report in October, Tom Kennedy, an economist at J. P. Morgan Australia, said. "What little strength that we have seen in the retail report over the past few months has largely been generated by food retailing, which is likely being driven by an increase in prices, rather than a surge in demand."

The economists said real consumption has been very soft during the final three months of the year.

Separately, the statistical office reported that job vacancies in Australia fell to 166,800 in September-November from 179,200 in the three months through August after adjusting for seasonal variations. This was the lowest level since May 2010.

In a report today, the Housing Industry Association (HIA) said that new home sales posted a second consecutive monthly improvement in November driven by higher demand for detached houses.

Home sales rose 4.7 percent in November. However, HIA said that sales still remained at quite low levels. In the three months to November, the volume of sales was 15.7 percent lower than in the same period in 2011.

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2013-01-09 09:09

New Zealand Consumer Spending Rises For Third Month: Survey

Consumer spending in New Zealand rose for a third month in a row in December, a survey by Paymark showed Tuesday. The seasonally adjusted total spend through the Paymark network, which processes a large part of all electronic transactions in the country, increased 0. news.instaforex.com »

2013-01-08 09:42

French Service Sector Contraction Quickens In December

French service sector contracted at a faster pace in December, detailed results of the survey by Markit Economics showed Friday. The services activity index fell to 45. news.instaforex.com »

2013-01-04 13:09

Australia Manufacturing Contracts For Tenth Month

Manufacturing activity in Australia contracted for a tenth consecutive month in December, a survey by Australian Industry Group showed Wednesday. news.instaforex.com »

2013-01-02 07:45

U.K. Inflation Steady At 2.7%

U.K. annual inflation held steady in November at the highest level since May on increases in food and energy bills, official data showed Tuesday.

Consumer price inflation stabilized at 2.7 percent in November, figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed Tuesday. Inflation was at a 34-month low of 2.2 percent in September.

The November rate came in line with economists' expectations, but continues to hover above the 2 percent target. The highest upward impact on inflation was from food prices and utility charges, while fuel prices exerted downward pressure.

Core inflation that excludes energy, food, alcoholic beverages and tobacco, also remained unchanged at 2.6 percent in November. The rate was forecast to rise marginally to 2.7 percent.

As inflation is set to stay between 2.5 percent and 3 percent for the best part of the next year due to increases in utility and food prices, the squeeze on households' spending power looks likely to persist throughout 2013, said Samuel Tombs at Capital Economics. Nonetheless, inflation will eventually fall to a very low rate.

IHS Global Insight's Chief UK economist Howard Archer said he expects consumer price inflation to fall to 2.2 percent by the end of 2013 and finally below 2 percent in 2014.

Month-on-month, consumer prices increased at a pace of 0.2 percent, in line with forecast, but slower than a 0.5 percent rise in October, data showed.

Retail price inflation, at the same time, slowed to 3 percent from 3.2 percent in October. Mortgage interest payments had a downward impact on the annual change.

Excluding mortgage interest payments, retail prices climbed 2.9 percent annually, down from 3.1 percent a month ago. Economists had forecast the annual rate to remain at 3.1 percent.

In a separate communique, the statistical office said factory-gate inflation slowed in November. Output price inflation fell to 2.2 percent in November from 2.6 percent a month ago. It was forecast to ease to 2.5 percent.

Meanwhile, core output price inflation that strips out food, beverages, tobacco and petroleum, held steady at 1.4 percent.

Annually, input prices slipped 0.3 percent in November after staying flat in October. On a monthly basis, the input price index edged up 0.1 percent, the same rate as seen in September and October.

news.instaforex.com »

2012-12-18 16:42

Slovak Inflation Slows In November

Consumer price inflation in Slovakia weakened in November, after rising in the previous month, data released by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic showed Wednesday. news.instaforex.com »

2012-12-12 12:42