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5 NEWS 23.12.2021 DURING November 2021, the in- dustrial producer price index reg- istered an increase of 5.46 per cent when compared to the corresponding month of the previous year. When compared to November 2020, the industrial producer price index in- creased by 5.46 per cent. Price increases were registered in all the main industrial groupings, expect for energy which remained constant. The highest increase was recorded in intermediate goods (9.33 per cent), followed by consumer goods (4.65 per cent) and capital goods (1.75 per cent). Industrial producer prices for the domestic market increased by 2.12 per cent. Price rises were recorded in in- termediate goods (6.99 per cent) and consumer goods (1.72 per cent). Cap- ital goods dropped by 0.06 per cent. Non-domestic prices increased by 7.63 per cent. Prices within the euro area rose by 8.29 per cent while those within the non-euro area increased by 7.29 per cent. Monthly comparison During November 2021, the indus- trial producer price index increased by 0.23 per cent when compared to October 2021. Intermediate goods increased by 0.41 per cent and consumer goods rose by 0.25 per cent. Capital goods decreased by 0.12 per cent. There were no price changes in the energy sector. Domestic market prices increased by 0.60 per cent due to a rise in inter- mediate goods by 1.32 per cent and in consumer goods by 0.93 per cent. Non-domestic market prices moved in opposite directions, offsetting each other. An increase of 0.04 per cent was recorded in the euro area, whilst prices dropped by 0.02 per cent in the non-euro area. 5.46% increase in industrial producer price index Kindly indicate source when quoting from this release. 21 December 2021 | 1100 hrs | 231/2021 During November 2021, the industrial producer price index registered an increase of 5.46 per cent when compared to the corresponding month of the previous year. Industrial Producer Price Indices: November 2021 Annual comparison When compared to November 2020, the industrial producer price index increased by 5.46 per cent. Price increases were registered in all the main industrial groupings, expect for energy which remained constant. The highest increase was recorded in intermediate goods (9.33 per cent), followed by consumer goods (4.65 per cent) and capital goods (1.75 per cent). Industrial producer prices for the domestic market increased by 2.12 per cent. Price rises were recorded in intermediate goods (6.99 per cent) and consumer goods (1.72 per cent). Capital goods dropped by 0.06 per cent. Non-domestic prices increased by 7.63 per cent. Prices within the euro area rose by 8.29 per cent while those within the non-euro area increased by 7.29 per cent (Table 2). Monthly comparison During November 2021, the industrial producer price index increased by 0.23 per cent when compared to October 2021. Intermediate goods increased by 0.41 per cent and consumer goods rose by 0.25 per cent. Capital goods decreased by 0.12 per cent. There were no price changes in the energy sector. Domestic market prices increased by 0.60 per cent due to a rise in intermediate goods by 1.32 per cent and in consumer goods by 0.93 per cent. Non-domestic market prices moved in opposite directions, offsetting each other. An increase of 0.04 per cent was recorded in the euro area, whilst prices dropped by 0.02 per cent in the non-euro area (Table 3) Cut-off date: 17 December 2021 Chart 1. Industrial producer price index (2015=100) for total industry 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N 2018 2019 2020 2021 index period 0 Statistics in this News Release should be interpreted in the context of the COVID-19 situation. Industrial producer price index (2015=100) for total industry FROM PAGE 1 Tourism minister Clayton Bartolo told this newspaper that although Malta had gotten its COVID strategy right - be- ing among the first countries to reach herd immunity, as well as prompty im- plementing a nationwide vaccination programme - it was now suffering the effects of other countries lagging be- hind in their efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus. "Although the tourism industry is see- ing solid feedback from among locals, foreign business has taken a big hit," he said. "We now need to remain cautious and to maintain the balance that we have found to ensure businesses survive the pandemic." Tony Zahra, president of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, agreed. "Restaurants have registered an en- couraging number of bookings for Christmas and New Year, despite rising numbers of daily COVID cases regis- tered thus far," he said. He warned however, that this could change at any time if cases, hospitali- sations and deaths increased consider- ably. Zahra confirmed that accomodation bookings by foreigners had dropped to zero. "As more and more countries reintro- duce restrictions and lockdowns, any foreigners who had booked accomoda- tion in Malta have cancelled their reser- vations and we are of course seeing no new business at the moment," he said. Malta on Wednesday registered a re- cord 582 cases in the previous 24 hours, with two deaths recorded. is is the highest number of cases Malta has reg- istered in a single day since the start of the pandemic. Total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 now stand ar 473. MHRA CEO Andrew Agius Muscat said that all of Malta's important source markets for tourism, including the UK, Italy, Germany and France, had dried up completely. "And there are no signs that things will be getting any better in the near future," he said. "With things changing by the hour, the uncertainty among operators is growing." Agius Muscat said that the govern- ment had already agreed a month's ex- tension of benefits granted to operators in the tourism industry to help mitigate the effects of the loss of business and to forestall staff dismissals. "We will be meeting the government again next month to discuss the situa- tion and to examine options that can be adopted should the situation worsen" he said. He said that operators in the tourism industry were not after government handouts for the sake of it, but it was evident that Maltese businesses - like others abroad - could not survive the pandemic without government assis- tance. e tourism industry contributes 30% of Malta's GDP - directly and indirectly - so the whole country's economy would suffer if the industry had to endure an- other long period of uncertainty. "Foreign business is at a standstill but some local events are still happening," Agius Muscat said. "With authorities warning people to be cautious and with the rising number of cases, this too could change quickly." He said the good communication channels with the government and oth- er authorities were crucial in getting the industry to this point, following the on- set of COVID-19. "e results of the cooperation be- tween all parties involved are evident today, and the sector has survived to face another day, for now," he said. 'No sign things will be getting any better in the near future'

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