--UK Mar unadj producer output prices unch on mo; +0.8% on yr
--UK Mar adj core output prices unch on mo; +0.4% on yr
--UK Mar adj prod input prices -0.9% on mo; +3.7% on yr
--UK Mar input prices lower than expected, output as forecast
--ONS: Cheaper petrol effect partly offset by higher food, tobacco
--ONS: UK food output prices up 0.8% on mo, mainly due to meat
--ONS: UK imported meat prices up 20.6% on mo
--UK Mar unadj output prices ex-duties +0.3% on mo; +0.8% on yr
--UK Mar unadj prod input costs -2.0% vs mo; +3.6% on yr
--UK Mar unadj core output prices +0.1% on mo; +0.4% on yr
--UK Mar unadj output price rise on year lowest since Mar 1999

London, April 9 (BridgeNews) - Downward price pressures from budget duty changes were partly offset by foot and mouth-related increases in meat prices in March, according to figures published Monday by the Office for National Statistics. Adjusted producer input prices fell 0.9% on the month and rose 3.7% on the year, compared with a forecast of a 0.8% monthly fall and a rise of 4.9% on the year.
* * * The ONS said the input price fall was mainly due to cheaper crude oil, electricity and non-ferrous metals. Partly offsetting this was a rise in imported meat prices of 20.6%.
On the output side, higher meat costs added 0.1 percentage points to the monthly price measure. But overall output prices were unchanged on the month and up 0.8% on the year, roughly in line with expectations for no change on the month and an annual rise of 1.1%. The annual rate of unadjusted output price inflation was the lowest since Mar 1999.
Adjusted core output prices, which strip out food, drink, tobacco and petrol costs, were unchanged on the month and up 0.4% on the year, as forecast, compared with an annual rate of 0.5% in February.
The figures show that the inflationary impact of foot and mouth disease is, for the moment at least, being offset by lower energy and commodity prices. The effect is being pronounced by the base effects of much higher oil prices at the same time last year.