Energy (+23%) weighed on industrial prices (+6.8%). Down on food, fashion and electronics
In April, growth was linked to gas and crude oil. On a monthly basis average price increases limited to 0.3%
by Luca Orlando
The feared surge is not yet there, or at least not on the scale predicted. The April production price data show an average increase of 6.8% compared to the same month of the previous year, and although this is an obvious spurt compared to the 4.2% in March, breaking down the analysis into the various production sectors, it is above all energy that is out of control. As was the case in the 2022 crisis, the knock-on effects propagating from energy still take a few months to transfer downstream.
On average, the year-on-year increase is 6.8% (+0.3% compared to the previous month), but for some sectors, such as food, textiles-clothing and electronics, there are even trend reductions. In energy, year-on-year price increases are close to 23% (+71% for oil products), while for durable goods, consumer goods and intermediate goods, growth is on average lower.
Moreover, ISTAT reports, the trend growth in energy is amplified by the statistical effect of the comparison with April 2025, when large price declines were observed in the sector. For construction, the cyclical increase in prices is mainly due to increases in the costs of materials and fuels.
In detail
In April 2026, producer prices in industry increased by 0.3% on a monthly basis and by 6.8% on an annual basis (it was +4.2% in March). On the domestic market, prices were almost static on a monthly basis (+0.1%) and increased by 8.8% year-on-year (from +5.4% in the previous month). Excluding the energy sector, prices were up 0.6% on a cyclical basis and up 2.0% on a year-on-year basis (from +1.5% in March).
