Overall agricultural index stable in March 2023

In March, the overall agricultural index remained relatively stable: -0.8% compared to the previous month. The index for animals and animal products increased by 0.3%, while the indices for agricultural plant products and horticultural products fell by 6.1% and 1.2% respectively. Compared to March 2022, however, producer prices are higher. The overall agricultural index for March is 18.5% higher than in 2022.
Purpose and brief description
The agricultural price indexes (API) are above all used to analyze the evolution of prices and their impact on the agricultural income. The purpose of the price indexes is to provide information on trends in producer prices of agricultural products and purchase prices of the means of agricultural production. These indexes should allow comparing the trends between the member states and the European Union as well as between various products within a member state or the European Union. They should also facilitate the comparison between the trend of output prices and that of purchase prices of the means of agricultural production.
Population
Agricultural holdings active in Belgium during the reference period
Frequency
Monthly
Timing publication
Results available 45 days after the reference period
Definitions
Agricultural output price index :It is the agricultural output price index based on the sales of agricultural products delivered outside the agricultural sector.
Index of the purchase prices of the means of agricultural production : It is the index of purchase prices of the means of agricultural production to the exclusion of agricultural products as production means.
Average price of the agricultural and horticultural products : It is the average price received by the farmer when selling agricultural products.