Official figures show that annual manufacturing prices have increased by 2% in May 2012 when compared with May 2011.
The Central Statistics Office recorded an increase in manufacturing prices for the month of May is 0.6% higher than the month of April.
Despite the downturn, the cost of building and construction materials increased by 3% in the year since May 2011.
Energy products increased 2.7% in the same period while fuel costs were up by 7.1%. The cost of petroleum fuels fell by 1.5% in the month of May.
The most significant increases recorded in the month of May were in meat and meat products, up 1.5%, computer, electronic and optical products, up 0.8%, and basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations, which rose by 0.7%.
In the year to May the most notable increases were recorded in computer, electronic and optical products, up 6.9%, other food products (including bread and confectionary) up 6.3%, meat and meat products up 4.1%.
