Unit Value Index of Agricultural Products up 2.1 percent

The Unit Value Index of Agricultural Products increased by 2.1 percent compared to the previous quarter. The change was mainly due to an 8.1 percent increase in the unit value of perennial crops, which contributed 2.21 percentage points to the total index change. Compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year, the Unit Value Index of Agricultural Products increased by 6.6 percent. The latter was largely caused by the 12.4 percent increase in the unit value of live animals and animal products, which contributed 6.3 percentage points to the total index change.

The Unit Value Index of Agricultural Products represents the change in the average price level of products that are sold in the reporting period by agricultural holdings throughout the country, compared to the reference period. The index covers the following products:

• Non-perennial agricultural crops (wheat, maize, sunflower seeds, potatoes, etc.);

• Perennial crops (grapes, fruits, hazelnuts, walnuts. etc.);

• Live animals and animal products (cattle, sheep, honey, milk, etc.).

The structure of the Unit Value Index of Agricultural Products follows the Statistical Classification of Products by Activity (CPA 2008). According to the CPA, the index covers 01.1, 01.2 and 01.4 groups of the Section A (agricultural, forestry and fishing products). The survey of agricultural holdings is the source of information for the index calculation.

The survey provides information on the number of cattle and poultry in the country, the number of bee families, the production of livestock products, the average milk yield, the average number of livestock, the production and average yield of sown and harvested areas of non-perennial agricultural crops, the production of perennial crops, and also information about the sales of the products listed above.

The unit value of agricultural products used for the index calculation represents the ratio between the total value of the agricultural and/or livestock products sold by the agricultural holdings and the total volume of these sales in the specified period. The mentioned indicator reflects the average value of agricultural products at the farm gate.