TIRANA, December 9 – The Institute of Statistics reported that import prices fell by 0.5% in the third quarter compared with the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, the institute noted a quarterly decrease of 0.2%.

Earlier today, the institute said that the annual drop came mainly from the sector of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning, where prices fell by 4.6%. In addition, it reported lower prices in water supply and waste-treatment activities by 0.7%.

The institute added that manufacturing, which held 94% of the total index weight, fell by 0.3%. Within this sector, food-processing prices dropped by 1.7%. Wood-product manufacturing followed with a decrease of 1.2%. Clothing manufacturing fell by 0.8%, beverage production by 0.6% and chemical production by 0.5%.

At the same time, the institute observed price increases in other industries by 1.3%, tobacco-product manufacturing by 1.1% and printing by 0.8%.

In quarterly changes, the energy sector fell by 1.1%, while manufacturing declined by 0.1%. However, water supply and waste-management activities rose by 0.9%.

Later, the institute noted that food-processing prices recorded the largest quarterly drop at 1.3%. Chemicals fell by 0.9% and textile processing by 0.6%. It added that prices of fabricated metal products rose by 0.8%, while tobacco-product prices increased by 0.7%.

/a.p./