In 2008 sales prices of food industry grow by 10.4%

Domestic sales prices of industry decreased by 1.6% in December 2008 compared to the
previous month and were 8.3% higher than in December 2007.

Export sales prices of industry
measured in HUF diminished by 0.3% compared to November 2008 and
increased by 3.9% compared to the corresponding month of the previous
year. Industrial producer prices involving both domestic and export
sales prices were 0.9% lower than in the previous month and 5.8%
higher than a year before. In 2008 as a whole domestic sales prices
of industry went up by 11.6%, export sales prices by 0.6%, and as a
result of these two, industrial producer prices by 5.3%.

Domestic sales prices of industry
declined by 1.6% compared to the previous month, which is a slightly higher figure than the price
decrease measured in November (1.3%).

Domestic sales prices of manufacturing
branches were 2.5% lower in December compared to those registered in November. Significant
price decreases were measured again this month in the manufacture of
refined petroleum products (13.5%) and in the manufacture of
chemicals, chemical products and manmade fibres (4.1%) as a
consequence of a further fall of world market quoted prices of
petroleum and petroleum derivatives and the price decrease of basic
chemical materials (8.4%). Prices of textiles and textile products
went down by 1.1%, while those of fabricated metal products by 1%
owing to the price decreases of other wearing apparel and accessories
(1.3%) and basic metals (1.9%). Substantial price increases occurred
in the manufacture of leather, leather products and footwear (1.5%)
and in machinery and equipment manufacturing (1%) branches in
December 2008. As for the remaining manufacturing branches price
movements ranged between decreases of 0.2% and rises of 0.7%. Prices
of electricity, gas and water supply, representing a considerable
proportion in domestic sales of industry, remained practically
unchanged in December (0.1%).

Compared to December 2007, the highest
price increase within the domestic sales of manufacturing branches was observed in the
manufacture of fabricated metal products (8.5%) this month. Price
rises of 7% and 5.8% were observed in the manufacture of leather and
leather products and manufacture of refined petroleum products,
respectively. The most significant price fall compared to December
2007 was recorded in the manufacture of refined petroleum products
(10%). In the manufacture of textiles and textile products and in the
manufacture of chemicals, chemical products and man-made fibres less
intensive price decreases occurred (3.1% and 0.7%, respectively). In
the remaining manufacturing branches price increases varied between
0.1% and 4.3%. In manufacturing as a whole prices went up by 1.5% in
the last twelve months. Prices of electricity, gas and water supply
were 23.2% higher – at the same rate as in November – than in the
corresponding period of the previous year.
In 2008 as a whole prices rose to the
highest extent compared to the previous year in the manufacture of
refined petroleum products (24.8%) and in food industry (10.4%),
which latter represents a significant weight in domestic sales of
industry. Prices declined only in textile industry (1.7%). Prices
increased by 8.6% in manufacturing as a whole, and by 17.7% in
electricity, gas and water supply.

Among the end-use groups of branches in
domestic sales the prices of consumer goods producer branches and capital goods producer
branches showed in December 2008 monthly rises of 0.6% and 0.2%, respectively, while in energy and
intermediate producer branches a monthly price decrease of 2.5% was
measured. The highest price increase was recorded in energy and
intermediate producer branches (10.5%) compared to the corresponding
month of the previous year. Price increases of 4.5% and 3.8% were
measured for capital goods and in consumer goods producing branches,
respectively. In 2008 as a whole the prices of energy and
intermediate goods went up by 14.8% compared to the previous year.
Prices of consumer goods rose by 6.5%,
while those of capital goods by 2.5% in the same period.

Export sales prices of industry as a
whole measured in HUF diminished by 0.3% in December 2008 compared to the previous month, and by
3.9% compared to December 2007. The HUF strengthened by 0.4% against
the EUR and by 5.5% against the USD in comparison to the previous
month; and depreciated by 4.4% against the EUR and
by 13.2% against the USD compared to December 2007.