Surging power, gas costs drive increase in 2Q producer prices

Surging power, gas costs drive increase in 2Q producer prices
Aug. 17 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand producer input and output prices rose in the second quarter, led by electricity and gas, reflecting low hydro lake levels and conditions in the spot market for power, government figures show. Prices paid by producers rose 0.6 percent in the three months ended June 30, accelerating from a 0.3 percent pace in the first quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand. Prices received by producers, or output prices, climbed 0.3 percent, following a 0.1 percent decline in the first three months of the year. Elec...