Manufacturing prices fall again in May

The prices of goods leaving the factory gate fell for the fourth consecutive month in May, according to data from the Central Statistics Office.

The CSO's wholesale price index shows the cost of pharmaceutical and chemical products fell by 1.4 per cent last month while office machinery and IT equipment prices were 1.3 per cent lower, two key areas exports from Ireland.

This later category is down 10.4 per cent for the year.

However, building materials rose slightly in price, up 0.1 per cent in May, while energy products rose 0.3 per cent.

The cost of petroleum products rose 1.1 per cent last month, although for the year they are down 3.4 per cent.