Export, import prices grow substantially in July

Prague, Sept 17 (CTK) - Czech foreign trade prices grew markedly again year-on-year in July, with export prices rising by 4.7 percent and import prices by 5.5 percent, the growth being also caused by a significant weakening of the crown against dollar, the Czech Statistical Office (CSU) said yesterday.

In a month-on-month comparison, export prices fell by 0.4 percent and import prices dropped by 0.5 percent in July.

The year-on-year growth of export prices was driven mainly by a 5.7 percent price growth in the category of machinery and transport equipment.

Among important categories, price growth was registered in miscellaneous manufactured articles (+5.3 percent), chemicals (+4.5 percent) and manufactured goods classified chiefly by material (+4.0 percent).

A significant price drop of 2 percent was recorded in mineral fuels.

The year-on-year growth of import prices was also driven mainly by prices in machinery and transport equipment which rose by 6.2 percent.

Among important categories, prices rose in mineral fuels (+12.0 percent), miscellaneous manufactured articles (+5.0 percent) and chemicals (+4.0 percent).

A price drop was registered only in crude materials except fuels (-2.0 percent).

The month-on-month decrease of export prices was pulled mainly by a 2.7 percent price drop in the category of chemicals.

Among important categories, a price drop was registered in manufactured goods classified chiefly by material (-0.7 percent), miscellaneous manufactured articles (-0.6 percent) and machinery and transport equipment (-0.2 percent)

Prices of food increased by 1.2 percent and prices of mineral fuels rose by 1.1 percent month-on-month.

The month-on-month drop of import prices was driven mainly by a price fall in the categories of chemicals (−1.9 percent) and manufactured goods classified chiefly by material (−0.8 percent).

Significant price falls were recorded in food (−1.1 percent) and crude materials except fuels (−0.9 percent). Prices of machinery and transport equipment did not change.

Prices of drinks and tobacco rose by 1.1 percent and prices of animal fats and vegetable oils increased by 0.8 percent.

The terms of trade increased to 99.2 percent year-on-year in July. But they stayed in negative values for the thirty-second straight month.

Month-on-month, the terms of trade reached 100.1 percent.