Factory gate prices have grown for 15 consecutive months to April 2017 despite raw material costs being relatively flat since January 2017.

The monthly rate of inflation for goods leaving the factory gate (output prices) was unchanged at 0.4% in April 2017, while input prices rose 0.1% following 2 months of no growth.

The annual rate for factory gate price inflation was positive but unchanged at 3.6%, while the annual growth rate for input prices fell back to 16.6% from a peak of 19.9% in January 2017.

Prices for imported materials and fuels rose 14.9% on the year and were lower than overall input costs for the third month in a row following a strengthening in the value of sterling over recent months.