Producer price indices in agriculture
The producer price index in agriculture for the first quarter of 2026 decreased by 2.7% in comparison with the same quarter of 2025 as a result of the decrease in the crop output price index - by 6.5%, while the animal price index increased - by 3.0%. Compared to the previous year (on an annual basis), the prices of agricultural output went up by 0.4%, as in crop output they increased by 0.3% and in animal output - by 0.5% (Table 1).
Compared to the first quarter of 2025, the most significant increase was in fruit - by 56.6%, as a result of an increase in the prices of walnuts - by 77.8%, pears - by 48.2%, and apples - by 36.0%. Fresh vegetables also recorded a growth of 19.3%, with the highest increase in cucumbers under glass - by 26.8%, and tomatoes under glass - by 15.7%. A decrease was reported in the prices of cereals - by 9.0%, as a result of the drop in prices of wheat and grain maize - by 13.8% and 1.8%, respectively. Prices of industrial crops also declined by 5.8%, as a result of the decrease in the prices of sunflower - by 7.4%.
Compared to 2025 (on an annual basis), the trend for fruits, vegetables, and cereals remained unchanged. The prices of fruits and vegetables increased by 46.8% and 44.9%, respectively. The prices of cereals were lower - by 2.0%, as a result of the decrease in the price of wheat and grain maize - by 4.7% and 1.5%, respectively. Industrial crops also registered an increase of 2.1%, due to the rise in the price of sunflower - by 4.8%.
Compared to the corresponding quarter of 2025, the prices of live animals fell by 0.7% due to the decrease in the prices of pigs - by 6.5%, and of poultry - by 5.5%. The prices of animal products recorded an increase of 6.5%, which was the result of a 22.7% rise in the price of hen eggs. The price of cow's milk decreased by 1.5%.
In animal output, in the first quarter of 2026, compared to 2025 (on an annual basis), the prices of animals went down by 3.5%, as a result of the decrease in the prices of pigs - by 11.9%, and of chickens - by 3.1%. The prices of animal products rose by 4.2%, as the biggest increase was recorded in the price of hen eggs - by 16.0%. The price of cow's milk decreased by 1.4%.
Table 1. Producer price indices in agriculture in the first quarter of 2026
| (Per cent) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Indicators | 2020 = 100 | Corresponding quarter of 2025 = 100 | 2025 = 100 |
| Total | 134.9 | 97.3 | 100.4 |
| Crop output | 127.9 | 93.5 | 100.3 |
| Animal output | 150.0 | 103.0 | 100.5 |
Figure 1. Producer price indices in agriculture by quarters (2020 = 100)
Price indices of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture
The price index of products and services currently consumed in agriculture for the first quarter of 2026 increased by 1.0% in comparison with the same quarter of the previous year. Compared to 2025 (on an annual basis), an increase of 2.0% has been registered.
Compared to the corresponding quarter of 2025, an increase was reported in the prices of: veterinary expenses - by 3.1%, mineral fertilizers - by 2.9%, and animal feeding stuffs - by 1.6%. There was a decrease in the prices of: seeds and planting stock - by 4.1%, electricity and fuels - by 3.2%, and plant protection products - by 0.1%.
Compared to 2025 (on an annual basis), an increase was reported in the prices of: mineral fertilizers - by 4.4%, veterinary expenses - by 3.2%, electricity and fuels - by 1.7%, and animal feeding stuffs - by 0.6%. A decrease was observed in the prices of: seed and planting material - by 1.6%, and plant protection products - by 0.1% (Table 2).
Table 2. Price indices of the goods and services currently consumed in agriculture, first quarter of 2026
| (Per cent) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Indicators | 2020 = 100 | Corresponding quarter of 2025 = 100 | 2025 = 100 |
| Total | 136.9 | 101.0 | 102.0 |
| Seeds and planting stock | 147.9 | 95.9 | 98.4 |
| Electricity, fuels and others | 132.9 | 96.8 | 101.7 |
| Fertilizers | 143.4 | 102.9 | 104.4 |
| Plant protection products | 102.5 | 99.9 | 99.9 |
| Veterinary expenses | 136.1 | 103.1 | 103.2 |
| Animal feeding stuffs | 145.3 | 101.6 | 100.6 |
Figure 2. Price indices of the goods and services currently consumed in agriculture by quarters (2020 = 100)
Methodological notes
Methodology and main definition
The surveys about the prices in agriculture are carried out in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2022/2379 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 November 2022 on statistics on agricultural input and output and the EU Handbook for Agricultural Price Indices. In this way harmonization with the EU practices in the domain of agricultural price statistics is achieved from the point of view of:
The object of observation are the producer prices of the produced by the farm crops, live animals and animal products and prices of products and services of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture.
Producer price in agriculture is the price received by a farm selling its own agricultural products/live animals. It is recorded at the first market stage of goods - ‘farm gate price’. Producer price excludes subsidies on agricultural products/animals, transport costs and taxes. VAT is also excluded from the price.
The examination of prices of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture (Input I) includes five surveys, which supply information about the prices of:
The object of observation is the purchase price of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture. The observed unit price is the price that the buyer actually paid for the means of production. It includes taxes and fees and excludes subsidies and VAT refunded.
Observation units
Observation units within the surveys of agricultural prices are farms - juridical and physical persons and agricultural and veterinary pharmacies. For each survey, a list of respondents is established and during the years, a stable number of price registrations of products/livestock categories and means of production is maintained.
The conducted surveys are exhaustive and include all units above a certain threshold defined in value terms. For the survey on the producer prices in agriculture as selection criteria, a value of sales of agricultural products/animals is used and for the surveys on the prices of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture - the expenditures rising from purchases of goods and services for intermediate consumption. The representativeness of prices is assured, both by maintaining a regular number of price registrations and coverage of at least 50% of the value of sales for each product/livestock category or purchase value of goods and services for intermediate consumption in the respective year.
Data sources
The sources of information are statistical questionnaires for the collection of qualitative and quantitative characteristics of agricultural products/live animals and goods and services currently consumed in agriculture and quarterly questionnaires supplying information about the producer prices of agricultural products/live animals and purchasing prices of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture.
The questionnaires on the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of agricultural products/live animals and goods and services currently consumed in agriculture supply data for the establishment of a list of representative products defined by their quantitative and qualitative, variety and other characteristics which may influence the variation of prices. The established lists of products are periodically updated, as usual in the years ending to 0 or 5, when the Eurostat weighting scheme is rebased.
The quarterly questionnaires supply regular data about the prices of the agricultural products/live animals or goods and services currently consumed in agriculture, included in the scope of surveys.
Calculation of average prices
Within the quarterly surveys, average monthly and quarterly prices are calculated. The average monthly prices are calculated as arithmetical mean derived from all registered prices. The quarterly prices are calculated as arithmetical mean from monthly prices.
Type of index and calculation
The calculation of price indices is carried out by the Laspeyres formula. This type of index has a constant weighting scheme so that the base period of weights and prices is the same. For the calculation of producer price indices as weights - the value of sales of agricultural output is used, and for the indices of prices of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture - the value of purchased intermediate consumption. The weights are calculated within satellite economic accounts for agriculture.
The indices are calculated on three bases: the previous year, the corresponding quarter of previous year and the year ending in 0 or 5 (Eurostat base).
The total index of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture (Input I) is calculated on the base of price indices of five groups of products as well as on the indices of goods and services calculated within the Survey on consumer prices index.
Classifications
For the survey of producer prices in agriculture, the Nomenclature of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (PRODAGRO) is used. PRODAGRO is used as a basis for further product breakdown in accordance with their qualitative and quantitative characteristics. For the surveys on prices of goods and services, currently consumed in agriculture, own proper classifications are used. These classifications are compiled within the surveys for the establishment of lists of representative products. For calculation and providing Eurostat with harmonized data of price indices in agriculture classification PRAG (Nomenclature of agricultural prices in the Eurostat New CRONOS database) is used.
Consideration of the impact of quality on the prices of agricultural products
To eliminate differences in prices associated with changes in the quality, type, quantity, and packaging, selected products are defined by quality, quantity, species and other characteristics that affect the changes of prices. When a particular product is dropped down from the list it has to be replaced by a new one defined by the same or approximately similar characteristics. The new product should also be representative.
The calculation of the indices of goods and services contributing to the agricultural investments (Input II)
The calculation of the price index of goods and services contributing to agricultural investments is also done by the Laspeyres formula. The values of goods and services, purchased by farms for further investments, calculated within the satellite economic accounts for agriculture, are used as weights. For calculation of the total index of goods and services, contributing to agricultural investments, indices from other surveys conducted by NSI in the domain of the Consumer prices statistics, Foreign trade statistics and Short-term business statistics are also used.
On the basis of the calculated indices of the goods and services for current consumption and of the goods and services for investment purposes, a total index of the prices of the means of agricultural production is calculated (Total Input).
Copyright © 2026 NSI All rights reserved