Consumer goods prices in Malta lower than most EU countries in 2002

Prices in Malta for consumer goods and services in 2002 were lower than in most EU15 countries, but on the high side when compared to the new member states.

Taking the EU15 level as being 100, Malta's index stood at 71.9, while the average for the new member states was 56.1.

This is one of the interesting comparisons in a new publication by the National Statistics Office, Benchmarking Malta in Europe.

The only drawback is that the latest figures are for 2002, and while the accession countries are included, the average for all 25 member states is not available.

It is already well known that the female employment rate is the lowest among all the member states, at 34.5 per cent of those aged 15-64, compared with 50.1 per cent of the accession states, and 55.6 per cent of the EU15. This drives down Malta's total employment rate (54.5 per cent) to below that of most EU member states (average 64.3 per cent).

However, the female participation rate does not tarnish the unemployment rate, which at 6.8 per cent in 2002, was lower than the average for either the EU15 or the accession states.

Malta fares well on the social cohesion indictors: for example, the proportion of children in Maltese jobless households is lower than the EU 15 average (7.2 per cent of those aged 0-17, compared with an EU15 average of 9.9 per cent). At 21 per cent, the at-risk-of-poverty rate (before social transfers) is either at par or below that in most member states.

On the economy, Malta fares quite well on flows of foreign direct investment, when compared to the country's Gross Domestic Product, a ratio of 5.2 compared with the EU15 average of 1.2. Malta ranked fourth of the accession states, which were led by Slovakia (8.2).

The publication also looks at energy costs, saying that household electricity was cheaper than the EU15 average, but higher for industrial users.

There was also disappointing news for those who still cling to the impression that smog affects cities: the level of greenhouse gas emissions in Malta is relatively higher than in the majority of EU member states.

Malta also generates more waste than most of the accession states, and landfill more of it (556kg per person per year) than the accession countries (305) or the EU15 (271.3). Only Cyprus has a higher rate (634).

The NSO said that the publication was the "first attempt" to publish indicators that would provide an assessment of Malta's progress compared with its European partners.

"Over the past few years, there has been a marked trend at the EU as well as at the international level to compile indicators that would allow comparisons between the different countries," the foreword says.

There are 48 different indicators, which NSO director general Alfred Camilleri said would be beneficial to statistical users.

"The truth is that a set of indicators provides a meaningful and concise snapshot of a country's progress," he said.

The publication is available from the NSO in Lascaris, Valletta, tel. 2123 9225, or from the Department of Information, Valletta, tel. 2122 4901.