Producer Price Index (PPI) is an index for measuring changes in the average price received by domestic producers for production of goods and services over a given period of time (base year). In fact, producer price index shows the trend of changes in the average price of goods and services produced in the country from the perspective of producers. This index is one of the indexes for measuring the economic performance of governments. This index has a significant impact on the decision making made by industry owners, investors and even politicians.

Statistical Centre of Iran (SCI) has always calculated the producer price index by different economic sectors in separate statistical surveys, and the related results are available to the public with specific topic pertinent to the given sector. With respect to the high contributions of different surveys to the calculation of this index, the SCI has taken an action to prepare and release general PPI in Iran.

Below, there is a brief report of the results of the general producer price index and the main and special sectors in the spring of the year1396¹.

1. The general index for producer price index was 222.4 in the spring of the year 1396 which increased by 3.6 and 9.7 percent compared with the index of the previous season (214.6) and the index of the corresponding season in the previous year (202.7), respectively. Percentage changes in the general index of the producer price index for the four seasons ending to the spring of the year 1396 was 7.5 percent in comparison with the corresponding period in the previous year (producer inflation rate), which shows a 6.0 percent rise in comparison with the inflation of the four seasons ending to the winter of the year 1395.

2. Producer price index in the agricultural sector in the spring of the year 1396 with a 20.5 percent rise reached 253.8 compared with the index of the previous season (210.6). The sector’s index in the given season experienced a 14.8 percent increase in comparison with the corresponding season in the previous year. Percentage changes in the producer price index in the agricultural sector for the four seasons ending to the spring of the year 1396 was 6.0 percent in comparison with the corresponding period in the previous year (producer inflation rate) which shows a 3.1 percent rise in comparison with the inflation of the four seasons ending to the winter of the year 1395.

3. Producer price index in the mining sector in the spring of the year 1396 reached 218.6 which increased by 7.6 and 14.1 percent in comparison with the same index of the previous season (203.1) and the index of the corresponding season of the previous year, respectively. Percentage changes in the producer price index in the mining sector for the four seasons ending to the spring of the year 1396 was 2.7 percent in comparison with the corresponding period in the previous year (producer inflation rate), which rose by -4.1 percent in comparison with the inflation of the four seasons ending to the winter 1395.

4. Producer price index in the industry sector in the spring 1396 with a 0.6 percent increase reached 210.3 in comparison with the index of the previous season (209.1). The sector’s index in the given season experienced an 8.8 percent increase in comparison with the index of the corresponding season of the previous year (193.3). Percentage changes in the producer price index in the industry sector for the four seasons ending to the spring of the year 1396 was 7.4 percent in comparison with the corresponding period in the previous year (producer inflation rate), which shows a 5.3 percent rise in comparison with the inflation of the four seasons ending to the winter 1395.

5. Producer price index in the electricity sector in the spring 1396 with an 8.0 percent decrease reached 122.7 in comparison with the index of the previous season (133.4). The sector’s index in the given season experienced a 6.0 percent decrease in comparison with the corresponding season of the previous year. Producer price index in the electricity sector for the four seasons ending to the spring of the year 1396) decreased by 3.7 percent in comparison with the corresponding period in the previous year (producer inflation rate), which rose by -4.5 percent in comparison with the inflation of the four seasons ending to the winter 1395.

6. Producer price index in the special sector of services in the spring of the year 1396 with an increase of 2.1 percent reached 235.3 in comparison with the index of the previous season (230.4). The sector’s index in the given season experienced a 9.5 percent increase in comparison with the corresponding season of the previous year. Percentage changes in the producer price index in the special sector of services for the four seasons ending to the spring of the year 1396 was 8.8 percent in comparison with the corresponding period in the previous year (producer inflation rate), which shows a 8.9 percent decrease in comparison with the inflation of the four seasons ending to the winter 1395.

**It should be noted that the results of the producer price index for every main and special sectors mentioned above are disseminated in Persian as seasonal and annual reports  in a separate and detailed manner  on the National Portal of Statistics of the Statistical Centre of Iran.

[1] . It is the Iranian year which usually begins within the day of 21 March of the Gregorian calendar. To find the corresponding year of the Gregorian calendar, add 621 or 622 (depending on the time of the year) to a solar Hijri year.  For example the corresponding year of the year 1396 in the Gregorian calendar is (21 March 2017-20 March 2018).