PPI for manufactured goods improves to 3.4%

The annual producer inflation, the producer price index (PPI) for final manufactured products improved to 3.4percent in December from 2.3percent in November due to a hike in food products, beverages and tobacco products. File image: IOL

The annual producer inflation, the producer price index (PPI) for final manufactured products improved to 3.4percent in December from 2.3percent in November due to a hike in food products, beverages and tobacco products. File image: IOL

Published Jan 31, 2020

Share

JOHANNESBURG - The annual producer inflation, the producer price index (PPI) for final manufactured products improved to 3.4percent in December from 2.3percent in November due to a hike in food products, beverages and tobacco products. 

Statistics SA (StatsSA) said the PPI increased by 0.2percent month-on-month with food products, beverages and tobacco products which rose 3.2percent year-on-year being the main contributors. 

On a month-to-month basis, food products, beverages and tobacco products increased 0.8 percent. Metals, machinery, equipment and computing equipment and coke, petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products also contributed to the annual PPI increase. StatsSA said metals, machinery, equipment and computing equipment increased by 3.9percent year-on-year, while coke, petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products rose by 2.4percent year-on-year. But the annual percentage change in the PPI for intermediate manufactured goods decreased from -1.1percent in November to -1.5percent in December. 

StatsSA said the main contributors to the decline were chemicals, rubber and plastic products, and recycling and manufacturing. Marique Kruger, an economist at the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa, said the decrease in the selling price inflation would prevent companies in the metals and engineering sector from improving margins. 

“Given the tough conditions, the added pressure in the form of decreasing selling prices is discouraging as companies are unable to pass cost increases on to the market,” Kruger said. But Kruger said she remained hopeful that the PPI for intermediate manufactured goods would rebound and provide a profitable buffer for businesses.

The annual producer inflation, the producer price index (PPI) for final manufactured products improved to 3.4percent in December from 2.3percent in November due to a hike in food products, beverages and tobacco products.

File image: IOL

BUSINESS REPORT  

Related Topics: