Consumer price index, March 2021
According to Statistics Estonia, in March 2021, the consumer price index fell by 0.2% compared to February and rose by 1.1% compared to March 2020. Goods were 0.5% and services 2% more expensive than in March last year.
Viktoria Trasanov, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that compared to March 2020, the consumer price index was affected the most by 18.3% more expensive electricity that reached homes. “Diesel fuel was 4.7% cheaper and petrol 4.5% more expensive. Among food products, prices rose the most for flour mixes, by 13.2%, and fresh vegetables, by 10.3%, while the prices of potatoes and olive oil fell, by 22.3% and 10.3%, respectively,” added Trasanov.
Compared to February, the consumer price index was affected the most by 11.3% cheaper electricity that reached homes. A bigger impact came also from 3.9% price increase of motor fuel and price changes of food products, where fresh vegetables were 19.7% and fresh fish 19.8% more expensive and meat and meat products were 2.4% cheaper.
The index for education decreased due to the decision of local authorities not to charge kindergarten fees during the nationwide restrictions.
| Commodity group | March 2020 – March 2021, % |
February 2021 – March 2021, % |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL | 1.1 | -0.2 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 0.5 | 0.1 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 1.5 | 0.5 |
| Clothing and footwear | -2.8 | 0.6 |
| Housing | 1.9 | -2.7 |
| Household goods | 0.1 | -0.1 |
| Health | 3.6 | 0.2 |
| Transport | 3.4 | 2.4 |
| Communications | -2.7 | -1.0 |
| Recreation and culture | 1.7 | -1.3 |
| Education | 2.9 | -9.7 |
| Hotels, cafés and restaurants | -1.2 | 0.0 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 1.6 | 0.1 |
See also the consumer price index calculator and the prices section on the 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 data.
More detailed data have been published in the statistical database.
For further information:
Kadri Kütt
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 9181