Factory-gate prices for manufacturing grew by 1.1 per cent in March continuing a return to growth started in February, according to data released today by the Central Statistics Office.
This brought the average annual rate to minus 5.1 per cent, an improvement on the 6.6 per cent decline recorded in February 2004.
In the 12 months to March this year export sales decreased by 6 per cent while the index for home sales fell by 1 per cent.
Behind the drop in prices was a 13 per cent fall in office machinery and computer costs and a 7.7 per cent drop in the cost of basic chemicals.
However, building and construction materials showed a 5.5 per cent price rise over the same period. The cost of structural steel showed a 23.5 per cent price rise followed by a 19.1 per cent growth in the cost of reinforced metal.