The headline rate of output inflation for goods leaving the factory gate was 2.1% on the year to April 2019, down from 2.2% in March 2019. The growth rate of prices for materials and fuels used in the manufacturing process was 3.8% on the year to April 2019, up from 3.2% in March 2019. All product groups provided upward contributions to output annual inflation. Crude oil provided the largest upward contribution to the annual rate of input inflation, increasing to 6.9% on the year. (full story)