Canada's FPPI Slips in September

OTTAWA - Dec 3/04 - SNS -- Canada's farm product price index (FPPI) slipped in September, but remained above year earlier levels, according to preliminary calculations by Statistics Canada.

The index of prices received by farmers for their agricultural commodities stood at 98.4 points, 2.07% above September of 2003, but 1.6% below August's revised calculations.

The livestock and animal products index was 5.5% above year-earlier levels, marking the fourth consecutive year-over-year increase. Prior to June 2004, the total livestock and animal products index had decreased on a year-over-year basis for 12 consecutive months.

Meanwhile, the crop index was down 1.3% from its September 2003 level to 96.1, continuing the monthly year-over-year decreases which began in July 2003.

The grains and vegetables indexes were the only two to record a decrease on the crops side. While for the livestock and animal product index, all but the cattle and calves index recorded an increase over September 2003.

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