CENTRAL STATISTICS OFFICE:Wholesale prices rose by 0.3 per cent in June, according to new figures published by the Central Statistics Office. This compares with a 0.8 per cent decline for the same month a year earlier.

On an annual basis, wholesale prices increased 3.2 per cent last month as against a 2 per cent increase in the year to May.

The price index for export sales in June grew by 0.6 per cent, while the index for home sales declined by 0.9 per cent. In the year, there was an increase of 3.4 per cent in the price index for export sales and an increase of 2 per cent for home sales.

The most significant changes recorded last month were increases in computer, electronic and optical products, up 1.3 per cent, and basic pharmaceutical products and preparations, up 0.9 per cent. Prices for other food products, which include bread and confectionary, were up 0.7 per cent.

The biggest price falls were in fish and fish products, down 3.5 per cent, dairy products, down 2.8 per cent and electrical equipment, down 1.2 per cent.

The price of energy products rose by 0.8 per cent in the year since June 2011, while petroleum fuels were up by 2 per cent.