The Canadian Press

The Industrial Product Price Index increased 1% in November, while the Raw Materials Price Index rose 2.2%, mainly due to higher prices for petroleum and metals.

Statistics Canada reports the rebound in the industrial index was the strongest since June 2008.

The agency says the industrial index was mainly pushed up by higher prices for petroleum and coal products (up 4.9%) and primary metal products (up 1.6%).

Only one of the 21 major industrial product groups registered a price decline.

The industrial index was down 2.8% in November from a year earlier, its ninth straight year-over-year decrease.

The raw materials index has been on the rise since last January, sustained by rising prices for mineral fuels and non-ferrous metals.

Mineral fuels prices rose 2.1% in November, while a 4.8% increase in prices for non-ferrous metals also contributed to the rise.

Raw materials rebounded with a substantial 9.3% hike from November 2008, their first increase after 13 straight declines.

The hike in raw materials prices came largely on the strength of a 16.1% rise in mineral fuels and a 28.8% jump in non-ferrous metals. The year-over-year increase was tempered by declines in all the other major groups, especially animals and animal products.