Agricultural input price indices, Slovenia, 2008

In 2008 too higher prices of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture

In 2008 prices of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture increased on average by 2.2%, while compared to 2007 they were up on average by 23.9%.

2008 was above all characterised by considerably higher prices of fertilizers. Fertilizer prices were increasing monthly until October – the highest price increase was recorded in the third quarter of 2008 – while in the last two months of the year fertilizer prices slightly decreased.

After a considerable price increase of animal feedingstuffs in 2007, when the energy market started to form prices of cereals and energy commodities, we recorded, after price increase of animal feedingstuffs at the beginning of 2008 and more or less stable prices of animal feedingstuffs during the year, first a considerable price decrease of animal feedingstuffs only in October 2008 and the second one in December 2008.

Among prices of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture the highest price increase in 2008 was thus recorded at fertilizers (on average by 65.7%), followed by prices of goods and services for maintenance of materials (on average by 8.4%), of veterinary expenses (by 6.2%), of goods and services for maintenance of buildings (on average by 5.9%), of plant protection products (on average by 4.5%), of seeds (on average by 3.8%) and of other goods and services (on average by 0.6%). In 2008 only prices of energy and lubricants and of animal feedingstuffs decreased (on average by 13.9% and 11.9%, respectively).

Also in comparison with 2007, in 2008 prices of fertilizers increased the most (on average by 92.4%) and prices of other goods and services the least (on average by 0.8%). Prices of animal feedingstuffs were in 2008 higher on average by 25.2%, prices of energy and lubricants by 19.0%, prices of goods and services for maintenance of materials by 12.0%, prices of veterinary expenses by 6.2%, prices of plant protection products by 6.1%, prices of goods and services for maintenance of buildings by 5.9% and prices of seeds by 3.8%.

Prices of goods and services contributing to agricultural investment also higher (annual growth rate 5.0%, 12-month average price growth 4.7%)

In 2008 prices of goods and services contributing to agricultural investment increased on average by 5.0%. On average prices of materials (prices of machinery and other equipment as well as prices of tractors) went up by 5.4% and prices of other buildings by 4.5%.

Compared to 2007, in 2008 prices of goods and services contributing to agricultural investment increased on average by 4.7%; on average, prices of materials were higher by 4.4% (prices of machinery and other equipment were higher by 4.4% and prices of tractors were higher by 4.5%) and prices of other buildings by 5.3%.

• Agricultural Input Price Indices, Slovenia, 2005-2008, 28kB