asked the Taoiseach the annual cost to the Central Statistics Office of compiling the agricultural input price index on a monthly basis; and the use made of the index.
Written Answers. - Agricultural Input Price Index.
18.
The cost to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) of collecting and processing the detailed price quotations leading to the compilation of the monthly and annual agricultural input price index numbers and associated absolute average prices of farm inputs is currently around £40,000 per annum.
The input price index numbers provide indicators of monthly and annual trends in the overall cost of farm inputs and in the costs of the principal constituents such as feeding stuffs, fertilisers, energy etc. Taken in conjunction with the (CSO) agricultural output price index numbers, which measure trends in the prices received by farmers for their produce, they also allow for the ongoing monitoring of the impact of price movements on the agricultural sector.
The agricultural price indices are made available to users on a widespread basis through the publication of detailed monthly releases and through incorporation into regular CSO publications such as the monthly Economic Series, the quarterly Statistical Bulletin and the annual Statistical Abstract. They are also now available through consultation of EOLAS, the computerised data bank launched recently by the CSO.
The statistics are of particular interest to agricultural policy-makers, both national and EC, to farming interests and to industrial and commercial concerns which have dealings with agriculture. They are also of use to economic and other researchers in analysing developments in the farming sector.