Portugal industrial producer prices on rise

Portugal's industrial producer prices rose in August by 1 percent compared with July, according to statistics released by Eurostat and available here Tuesday. The rise is the highest in six months and puts Portugal above the eurozone 0.9 percent and on a par with the EU 27 member states average index which is also 1 percent. The figure shows an acceleration compared with the 0.5 experienced in July and ties in with a rise in unemployment which hit record 15.9 percent levels in August. August prices in total industry excluding the energy sector gained 0.3 percent in both the euro area and the 27 EU member states. Prices in the energy sector increased by 2.4 percent and 3.2 percent respectively.