Source: The Canadian Press

The Industrial Product Price Index increased 0.4% in August, led by primary metal products.

The Raw Materials Price Index rose 2.2%, mainly due to higher prices for non-ferrous metals.

Statistics Canada reports that among the 21 major product groups, 10 posted gains, five decreased and the rest remained unchanged.

The industrial advance was mostly led by higher prices of primary metal products (up 3.3%) and a small 0.4% increase in the cost of petroleum and coal products.

Lower prices of pulp and paper products (down 0.4%) as well as rubber, leather and plastic fabricated products (down 0.5) moderated the increase.

The industrial index was up 0.6% from a year earlier, while raw-material prices had climbed 5%.

Higher prices for non-ferrous metals (up 6.3%) and mineral fuels (1.3) were the main factors in the rise in raw materials prices over July.

StatsCan says higher prices of vegetable products (up 3.1%) as well as animal and animal products (1.5) had a smaller contribution to the raw materials increase.