The headline rate of output inflation for goods leaving the factory gate was 2.9% on the year to August 2018, down from 3.1% in July 2018.

The growth rate of prices for materials and fuels for manufacturing (input prices) slowed to 8.7% on the year to August 2018, down from 10.3% in July 2018.

All product groups provided upward contributions to output annual inflation; the largest contribution for the fourth consecutive month was made by petroleum products.

Annual inflation remained positive for both input and output indices for the 26th consecutive month.