Data published by the Central Statistics Office today shows the State's manufacturing sector remains under pressure, with factory gate prices falling 6.4 per cent in the 12 months to February 2004.
Year on year the figures for February showed a 0.1 per cent increase compared to a 1.5 per cent decrease in manufacturing prices in February 2003.
Over the same period the export sales index declined by 7.9 per cent and the index for home sales declined by 0.9 per cent.
Factory gate prices for computers and office equipment dropped 2 per cent, while prices for basic chemicals rose by 1.6 per cent with radio, TV and communications equipment prices rising by 1.3 per cent.
Construction materials increased in price by 3.6 per cent over the year, with structural steel prices rising 17.5 per cent with electrical fittings rising 6.6 per cent.
The price of petroleum fuels fell in price by 8.9 per cent over the same period.
