Statistics Canada : Farm Input Price Index, third quarter 2016

Released: 2017-01-17

The Farm Input Price Index decreased 0.8% in the third quarter. The decline was largely attributable to lower prices for animal production (-2.0%), mainly cattle (-6.5%).

Crop production (-2.1%) also contributed to the decline of the index, as a result of lower fertilizer prices (-7.9%).

Higher prices for machinery and motor vehicles (+1.3%), buildings (+0.8%) and general business costs (+0.1%) moderated the decline.

The index fell in five provinces. Alberta (-1.5%) contributed the most to the national decline, followed by Ontario (-1.3%).

Year over year, farm input prices declined 5.2% at the Canada level. The decrease was mainly attributable to lower prices for animal production (-14.8%).

Compared with the third quarter of 2015, the index was down in six provinces. Alberta (-11.0%) contributed the most to the year-over-year decrease.

Note to readers

The Farm Input Price Index is subject to an eight-quarter revision period after dissemination of a given quarter's data.

The Farm Input Price Index is an indicator of the change in input costs faced by Canadian farmers. The index is not seasonally adjusted.

The index is available for 13 geographic areas: each of the 10 provinces, Eastern Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario), Western Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia), and Canada as a whole (excluding the territories).

Infographic: Producer Price Indexes at a Glance

The infographic 'Producer Price Indexes at a Glance,' which is part of Statistics Canada - Infographics (Catalogue number11-627-M), is available. This infographic demonstrates how producer price indexes for goods and services are calculated and why they are important for the Canadian economy.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; [e-mail]) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; [e-mail]).