Consumer price index down by 0.5% in March
According to Statistics Estonia, in March 2025, the consumer price index decreased by 0.5% compared with February and increased by 4.4% compared with March 2024. Goods were 2.1% and services 8.1% more expensive than in March last year.
Lauri Veski, team lead of consumer price statistics at Statistics Estonia, said that, year on year, food products, transport and housing had the biggest impact on the consumer price index in March. “Year on year, the motor vehicle tax that came into force in January will be affecting transport until the end of 2025. Rent and the cost of housing-related services have increased year on year. Compared with March 2024, prices have risen across almost all categories of goods and services. Clothing and footwear are the only exception, as their prices were down by 3.4%,” noted Veski.
Compared with February 2025, the decrease in the index in March was mainly driven by falling prices of electricity (down by 14.3%) and motor fuels (down by 4.1%).
Prices of food products were up by 0.7% in March compared with February, with the biggest increases recorded for fresh fruits and berries (5%), fresh vegetables (4.3%) and coffee (4.3%). Decreases were registered in the prices of fresh or chilled fish (9.1%) and processed fruits (4.5%).
Petrol in March 2025 was 4% and diesel fuel 4.6% cheaper than in February.
Change in the consumer price index by commodity group, March 2025
Commodity group | February 2025 – | March 2024 – |
TOTAL | -0.5 | 4.4 |
Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 0.7 | 6.7 |
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 0.8 | 2.3 |
Clothing and footwear | 1.5 | -3.4 |
Housing | -4.3 | 3.9 |
Household goods | 0.6 | 2.8 |
Health | 0.3 | 3 |
Transport | -0.5 | 6.3 |
Communications | 1.7 | 1.2 |
Recreation and leisure | 0.1 | 4 |
Education | 0 | 6.9 |
Hotels, cafés and restaurants | 0.7 | 5.4 |
Miscellaneous goods and services | -0.5 | 6.2 |
See also the consumer price index calculator and the prices section on our website.
For the statistical activity “Consumer price index”, the main representative of public interest is the Ministry of Finance, commissioned by whom Statistics Estonia collects and analyses the data.
More detailed data have been published in the statistical database.
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Heidi Kukk
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Statistics Estonia
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