March saw a slight decrease in the wholesale price index, according to figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) today.
The price index, which tracks factory gate prices of goods produced in Ireland, fell 0.2 per cent compared with a decrease of 0.4 per cent in the same month last year.
When the CSO figures are annualised, factory gate prices fell at a rate of 1.4 per cent in the month, compared with a decrease of 1.6 per cent in February.
As a result of the euro's strong performance against the dollar in March export sales fell by 0.5 per cent, while the index for home sales increased by 0.1 per cent.
Yearly figures indicate that there has been a decrease in export sales of 1.8 per cent and an increase in home sales of 0.4 per cent.
Building and construction material prices were up by 7 per cent year on year while the price of energy products purchased by the manufacturing industry was up 7.6 per cent. The price of petrol was up by 5.3 per cent on the previous year.