Output producer prices for New Zealand gained 0.8 percent in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the previous three months, Statistics New Zealand said on Friday.
That topped expectations for a flat reading following the 0.1 percent decline in the previous three months.
Input producer prices also added 0.8 percent on quarter versus forecasts for a 0.2 percent increase following the 0.3 percent contraction in the three months prior.
"Higher electricity generation prices contributed to increases in both the output and input PPI," prices manager Chris Pike said.
In the quarter, the electricity and gas supply output price index was up 12.5 percent and the input price index rose 15.1 percent. Higher prices for electricity generation and retail were due to lower lake levels and spot-market conditions, the bureau said.
The output price index for dairy product manufacturing rose 5.7 percent in quarter, following six consecutive quarterly falls since the September 2011 quarter. The latest increase was influenced by higher export prices for milk powder. The input price index for dairy product manufacturing increased 4.5 percent, reflecting the latest raw milk forecast payout for the 2012/13 season.
The output price index for sheep, beef, and grain farming fell 7.8 percent, reflecting lower prices for both sheep and beef cattle.
On a yearly basis, output prices were up 0.1 percent and input prices were flat.
Also on Friday:
• The price of purchasing new capital items fell 0.1 percent in Q1, Statistics New Zealand said. Four of six asset groups measured by the capital goods price index fell.
The major downward contributions to the CGPI came from: the plant, machinery, and equipment price index (down 0.9 percent); the civil construction price index (down 1.7 percent).
Partly offsetting rises came from the price indexes for residential buildings (up 1.0 percent) and non-residential buildings (up 0.5 percent).
On a yearly basis, the CGPI rose 0.8 percent.
• The total number of job advertisements in New Zealand was up 0.8 percent on month in April, according to the latest survey from ANZ Bank. That follows the downwardly revised 0.4 percent increase in March.
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