BERN: Swiss producer and import prices unexpectedly increased in March from the previous month, marking its first rise in ten months, driven by higher prices for petroleum and petroleum products, data from the Federal Statistical Office showed.
The producer and import price index rose 0.2% month-over-month in March, in contrast to a 1.4% fall in the previous month.
Economists had expected the index to remain flat in March. It was the first increase since May last year.
On an annual basis, producer and import prices declined at a slower pace of 3.4% in March, following a 3.6% decrease in February. It was expected to fall by 3.7%. The measure was falling since October 2013.
