Irish wholesale prices rose by 0.6 per cent in January compared to 0.6 per cent fall in 2003, according to the latest figures from the CSO.
As a result, the annual percentage change showed a decrease of 0.4 per cent in January 2005, which compares to a decrease of 1.6 per cent in December 2004.
In the month, the index for export sales increased by 0.8 per cent and the index for home sales decreased by 0.1 per cent.
In the year there was an increase in home sales of 0.8 per cent and a decrease in export sales of 0.7 per cent.
In the month, the biggest changes in wholesale prices were in pharmaceutical and other chemical products, which rose 3.9 per cent while basic chemicals were 0.9 per cent and other food products were up 1.4 per cent.
There was a decrease in office machinery and computers - which fell 0.9 per cent.
In the year, the annual percentage change was most influenced by a decrease in office machinery and computers - which fell 14 per cent - while there was an increase in pharmaceuticals and other chemical products - which rose 10.1 per cent - and other food products, which rose 9.3 per cent.