31 August 2017

2017- n° 230

In Q2 2017, producer prices for services sold to French businesses increased by 0.5% Services producer price indices - second quarter 2017

In the second quarter of 2017, producer prices of services sold to French businesses went up by 0.5%, after edging down in the beginning of the year (−0.2%). Year over year, they rose by 0.4%, as in the previous quarter.

After three quarters of virtual stability, prices for admistrative and support services picked up in the second quarter 2017 (+0.7% ; +0.8% year over year), especially because of the rise in prices for employment services (+1.4%).

Prices for transport and storage services gathered pace (+0.6% after +0.3%). This increase was driven by the impact of the petroleum price strengthening in the beginning of the year on prices for service activities incidental to transportation as well as by a lesser competition in sea and coastal water freight transport services.

Prices for accomodation-food services recovered seasonally (+1.6% after −1.0% ; −0.8% year over year).

Lastly, prices for real estate activities picked up slightly (+0.7% after +0.5% ;+2.4% year over year), mainly thanks to renting and operating services of own or leased real estate.

Prices for information-communication services were stable in the second quarter 2017 (after −0.7% in the first quarter ; −0.2% year over year) as well as those for scientific and technical services (after −0.1% ; −0.9% year over year).

In the second quarter of 2017, producer prices of services sold to households in France gathered pace (+0.5% after +0.3% ; +1.0% year over year) mainly because of rises in prices for transport and storage services (+1.3%) and for real estate activities (+0.5%). Only prices for administrative and support services declined (−0.9% ; −1.3% year over year).

After two quarters of stability, export prices rose anew (+0.4%). This rise in prices is due to an increase in prices of transport and storage services (+1.6%), partially offset by a decline in prices of scientific and technical services (−0.5%) and administrative and support services (−0.3%).

In the second quarter of 2017, on all markets, producer prices of services sped up (+0.5% after 0.0%). Year over year, they remained quite buoyant: +0.7% after 0.6%.