Euro area producer prices edge up in July, but fall in France, Italy and Spain

Industrial prices across the euro area edged higher in July, but fell in three of the single currency bloc's largest economies, France, Italy and Spain.

According to Eurostat, industrial producer prices rose at a 0.2% clip in July both versus the month before and the year earlier period.

July's gains were exactly as expected by economists.

Energy prices sported the biggest increase, jumping by 1.0% versus June, while those for capital goods were up by 0.1%.

Prices for durable consumer goods, whether they be durable or non-durable, on the other hand were unchanged, while those for intermediate goods fell by 0.3%.

From a year ago, it was exactly the opposite picture, with energy prices down by 1.7% and those for intermediate goods rising by 0.2%, while all other categories sported increases, led by a 1.5% gain for capital goods and those for durable consumer goods up by 1.4%.

However, at the national level, while industrial prices in Germany jumped by 1.3% year-on-year, in France, Italy and Spain they all fell, while in the Netherlands they were just 0.2% higher.