Qatar Statistics Authority (QSA) for the first time has released the Monthly Producer Price Indices (PPIs) of the Industrial sector for January, February and March of the first Quarter (Q1) of 2013, alongwith the PPI for Q1, 2013. The Industrial sector covers Mining, Electricity & Water and Manufacturing.    An analysis of the price movement in the first three months and also the changes noticed between the quarters are presented in the following paragraphs. Comparison with previous quarter Q4-2012:  The PPI for Q1, 2013 stood at 177.6 showing an increase of 4.3% when compared to the PPI of the Q4, 2012. In the “Mining” group, the PPI has increased by 4.8%, primarily due to the overall price rise seen in crude oil and natural gas by 4.9%.The increases of 1.8% in the PPI for the “Manufacturing” group is mainly explained by rising prices in iron & steel products by 11.0%, basic chemicals by 3.6% and cement products by 0.2%.On the other hand a slight decrease has been noticed in Grain Mill Products, Beverages and Refined Petroleum Products.The PPI for “Electricity & Water” however, showed increase of 6.4%, affected by price rise of 3.6 % in the Electricity and 11.1% in the Water. Comparison with the corresponding quarter (Q1) of 2012:  The year-on-year comparison (PPI of Q1 2013 compared to PPI of Q1 2012) has shown overall price stability (a marginal increase of 0.1%). While crude oil and natural gas price levels remained unchanged, slight decline in “Manufacturing” group was noticed. However "Electricity & Water" group showed a rise of 11.5 %. Comparison of PPIs between months ( January, February and March):March, 2013 / February, 2013: A decrease in crude oil and natural gas by (1.8%) and Manufacturing by (1.3%) was observed, while “Electricity & Water” showed increase of 7.0%.February, 2013 / January, 2013:PPI of February, 2013 showed an increase of 1.8%, when compared to the index of previous month (January, 2013). This increase was the result of combined price rise effect, seen in crude oil and natural gas by 2.2%" and Electricity & Water" by 2.5%.  For more details ,  click here For more details about PPI (Definition, Compilation, methodology … etc.) please refer to QALM: www.qix.gov.qa