This marked the tenth consecutive month of producer deflation, as prices declined further for manufacturing (-8.4%) and mining & quarrying (-3.8%); and to a lesser extent electricity, gas, steam & air-conditioning supply (-9.2%).

In addition, cost slowed sharply for water supply (8.7% vs 20.9% December).

On a monthly basis, producer prices increased by 0.3%, pointing to the first growth in three successive periods and rebounding from a 1.6% drop in December.