Producer prices rose slightly in March 2016 as leather and leather product manufacturers saw their material and fuel prices rise 0.6%, wearing apparel rise slightly by 0.2% and textile producers material and fuel costs remain flat.
Figure 1: Producer Price Index (2010=100)
Source: Office for National Statistics
The figures are interesting in that whilst wider manufacturing (excluding food, beverages, petroleum and tobacco manufacturing) have remained flat since 2010, each of the components of fashion and textiles manufacturing have seen cost rises.
This is due in large part to the substantial reduction in metal prices, significant to the heavy industrial manufacturing sectors (such as basic metal and metal fabrication) that have seen these sectors cost base fall over the six year index period.
