RAMALLAH, April 24, 2007, (WAFA)-Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said that there is 0.34% increase for Wholesale Price Index and 0.30% for Producer Price Index during the first quarter 2007.

In a press release on Tuesday on the price indices in the Palestinian Territory for the year 2007 , PCBS said that that there was an increase in the price index for the Palestinian Territory with its 1996 base year (1996=100) as follow:

The overall wholesale Price Index (WHI) reached 150.78 in q2 2007, a 0.34% increase relative to q4 2006. The overall producer Price Index (PPI) reached 142.62 in q2 2007, a 0.30% increase relative to q4 2006.

Analysis of wholesale price developments for this quarter indicates increases in the following major groups: Manufacture group+ 0.34 %, Agriculture goods, + 0.37 %,Fishing, + 0.19 % Mining and quarrying+ 0.09 %.

Analysis of producer price developments for this quarter indicates increases in the following major groups: Agriculture goods + 0.35 %, Manufacturing group + 0.26 %Fishing+ 0.12 %, Mining and quarrying + 0.07 %.

PCBS concluded that comparing prices of first quarter 2007 with the first quarter 2006, the results show that there was an increase by 2.04% for wholesale price index, and by 1.49% for producer price index.

M.H.(10:00 P)(07:00 GMT)