RIYADH: The general wholesale price index for the first quarter of 2011 rose to 150.2 points compared to 149.5 points for the fourth quarter of 2010. The wholesale price index is the measure of prices of various commodities charged by wholesalers and manufacturers before it reaches the retailer. In a report issued Wed-nesday, the General Statistics Department attributed the reason for the rise to eight major sections which make up the wholesale price index. The department said there has been a rise in prices of oils, animal and vegetable fats by 3.1 percent; chemicals and related substances by 2.8 percent; other commodities by 2.7 percent; tools and machinery by 1.6 percent; raw materials with the exception of fuels by 1.0 percent; while various manufactured commodities rose by 0.7 percent. Manufactured goods classified according to material rose by 0.6 percent; and drinks rose by 0.1 percent, the least price increase. The foodstuff and live animals sections registered a drop of 0.9 percent. The related mineral fuels section remained close to the previous record index level. General Statistics Department said the general record wholesale price index during the first quarter posted a rise of 5.0 percent compared to the first quarter of last year. This was attributed to the rise in nine major sections of the wholesale price index. The raw materials section, with the exception of fuels, for instance, registered a rise of 13.0 percent; chemicals and related substances by 10.7 percent;
