Source: The Canadian Press

The Industrial Product Price Index increased 0.5% in August, led by motor vehicles and chemical products, while the Raw Materials Price Index fell 3.2, largely due to lower prices for mineral fuels.

Statistics Canada reports the increase in the industrial index was the first in three months, and was primarily the result of higher prices for motor vehicles and other transport equipment (up 1.7%) and chemicals and chemical products (0.7).

Pulp-and-paper products (up 0.9%) and electrical and communication products (0.9) also contributed to the advance.

The rise in the industrial index in August was moderated by a 1.1% decline in petroleum and coal product prices.

The agency reports the decline in the raw materials index was mainly due to a seven per cent drop in mineral fuel prices.

The industrial index was up 5.2% in August compared with the same month a year earlier, while the raw materials index was up 13.3.