The agricultural output price index decreased by 3.9% in 2015 compared with 2014. The agricultural input price index was down 2.4% over the same period. Thus, the resulting terms of trade index decreased by 1.6% in 2015, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

On a monthly basis, the agricultural output price index remained static in December 2015, down 0.3% compared with November 2015.

Output prices

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Animal prices were up 6.5% in 2015, followed by a 1% increase in crop prices. However, animal product prices were down 21.3%, bringing the overall agricultural output prices down by almost 4%.

Animal product prices were down mainly due to the decrease in milk prices in 2015, from 121.5 to 94.7 on the index. Egg prices were also down by almost 2%.

Cattle (including calves) were up 10.5% compared with 2014, from 125.9 to 139.1 on the index. Calves alone were up 31.6%, from 126.3 in 2014 to 166.2 in 2015.

Sheep prices were up 1%, while prices for pigs and poultry were down 8.6% and 1.7% respectively.

Crop prices were up 1%, mainly due to potato prices, which saw an increase of 29.8% in 2015 compared with prices from the previous year.

Vegetable prices were also up by almost 1% in 2015. However, cereal prices fell by 5.6%.

Input prices

The overall agricultural input price index was down 2.4%. Energy prices saw an 11% decrease, mainly due to a fall in motor fuel prices.

Feed prices were also down almost 4% compared with 2014, with compound feed for cattle (excluding calves) falling by over 5%.

Seed prices fell by almost 3%, while prices for fertilisers remained static in 2015.

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