The number of persons in the labour force in the April 2012 was 179,500 which correspond to an activity rate of 80%. The number of employed persons was 166,000 and unemployed persons were 13,500. The employment rate was 74% and the unemployment rate was 7.5%.

In 2011 the goods exported from Iceland amounted to 620,100 million ISK and goods imported into Iceland amounted to 523,000 million ISK fob, 561,600 million ISK cif. Thus there was a trade surplus of goods, calculated on fob value, of 97,100 million ISK whereas the trade surplus in 2010 was 120,200 million ISK.

Monetary Bulletin 2012/2 published.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Iceland has decided to raise the Bank’s interest rates by 0.5 percentage points.

Tomorrow, Wednesday 16 May, the Central Bank of Iceland will publish the Monetary Policy Committee’s interest rate decision. A short press release will be published on the Bank’s website at 08:55 hrs. Monetary Bulletin 2012/2 will be published on the Bank’s website at 09:00 hrs.

It has been decided to change the November 2012 interest rate decision date from 7 November to 14 November. The change applies as well to the publication of Monetary Bulletin 2012/4.

The results of todays foreign currency auction are now available.

In March 2012, guest nights in hotels were 134,000 compared with 97,300 in March 2011. Nights spent by foreign tourists accounted for 77% of total of guest nights in March and increased by 45% compared with March 2011.

According to preliminary figures for April 2012 the value of exported goods amounted to ISK 50,200 million fob and the value of imported goods amounted to ISK 40,800 million fob. Thus, there was a trade surplus of ISK 9,400 million in April 2012, according to the preliminary figures, calculated on fob value.

Publication on export and export production of marine products 2011, due for release on 11 May, has been postponed until 18 May 2012.

The value of exported goods from Iceland amounted to ISK 156,100 million fob and the value of imported goods amounted to almost ISK 128,000 million fob (ISK 138,200 million cif) January-March 2012.

The producer price index (PPI) in March 2012 was 223.7 points (4. quarter 2005 = 100), 2.7% higher than in the previous month. The PPI for fish products was 274.6 points which is 2.2% higher than in February 2012 (effect on the index 0.7%) and the PPI for power intensive industry products was 249.9 points, 4.5% higher (1.7%).

In 2011, 11.3% of the Icelandic population lived in a household with housing cost which was over 40% of their disposable income. The housing cost overburden rate was highest for those who live alone, for young people, for people in the lowest income quintile or tenants who pay market rent.

In March 2012, 158 new private limited companies were registered compared with 178 in March 2011. The largest number of new registrations was in Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles.

The Consumer Price Index based on prices in April is 398.2 points (May 1988=100), 0.78% higher than in the previous month. The CPI less housing cost is 378.7 points, 0.74% higher than in March.

The number of persons in the labour force in the 1st quarter of 2012 was 176,200 which correspond to an activity rate of 78.8%. The number of em-ployed persons was 163,500 and unemployed persons were 12,700. The employment rate was 73.2% and the unemployment rate was 7.2%.

In December 2011, 19,159 children attended pre-primary schools, more than ever before in Iceland. The number of children increased by 198 from the previous year, or by 1.0%.

In December 2011 there were 5,515 staff members in pre-primary schools in Iceland working 4,798 full-time equivalent jobs. This is an increase of 27 (0.5%) staff members from the previous year and also an increase of 27 (0.6%) full-time equivalent jobs.

The wage index in March 2012 is 431.7 points, 1.1% higher than in the previous month. In the last twelve months the monthly wage index has risen by 12.1%. The real wage index in March is 112.1 points, 0.03% higher than in the previous month. In the last twelve months the real wage index has increased by 5.3%.