The consumer price index has risen more slowly in the last three months

News
Posted on 7 September 2026, 8:00

According to Statistics Estonia, in August, the consumer price index increased by 0.4% compared with July and by 1.5% compared with August 2025. Goods were 0.9% and services 2.4% more expensive than in August last year.

Lauri Veski. Photo: Statistics Estonia, Uku Nurges

Lauri Veski, the Consumer Price Statistics Service Manager at Statistics Estonia, said that the year-on-year increase in prices has been very small in the last three months – the last time that prices rose so little was in spring 2021. “Although housing and transport costs have increased compared with August last year, the index was driven down by the decrease in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages,” explained Veski.

Housing costs were influenced by the rise in the prices of refuse collection (53.6%), wood fuel (10%) and electricity (3.7%) compared with August last year. Fuels were the main contributors to the increase in transport costs, as petrol was 7.9% and diesel fuel 27.9% more expensive than in August 2025.

“Food and non-alcoholic beverages is the commodity group with the biggest weight in the consumer price index. Prices in this group fell by 2.6% year on year, which limited the overall price increase. The 4.6% decline in clothing and footwear prices also had a considerable impact on the year-on-year change,” added Veski.

Compared with August 2025, among food products, prices decreased by 15.7% for fruits and nuts. The prices of milk, dairy products and eggs fell by 4.1% and the prices of oils and fats by 19.2%, with butter being 28% cheaper. Year on year, prices increased by 4.8% for fish and fish preparations, by 16% for fresh fruit-bearing vegetables and by 3.5% for ready-made food.

Compared with July, fuel prices rose and food prices fell

Compared with July, petrol prices were up by 2.3% in August and diesel fuel prices by 11.2%. In August, electricity cost 3.1% more and rental payments for housing grew by 2.7%. Natural gas through networks was 6.2% cheaper than in July but still 18.3% more expensive than in August 2025.

Among food products, compared with July, prices decreased by 3.5% for coffee, by 12% for citrus fruits and by 9.6% for other fresh fruits. Bread and bakery products were 1% more expensive and fresh fruit-bearing vegetables cost 4% more than in July.

Consumer price index, August 2025 = 100

 Consumer price index
August 2025100.00
September 202598.88
October 202598.87
November 202598.71
December 202598.12
January 202699.13
February 202699.90
March 202699.90
April 2026100.74
May 2026101.12
June 2026100.62
July 2026101.14
August 2026101.51
Change in the consumer price index by commodity group, August 2026

Commodity group

July 2026 – 
August 2026, %

August 2025 –
August 2026, %

TOTAL

0.4

1.5

Food and non-alcoholic beverages

-0.4

-2.6

Alcoholic beverages and tobacco

-0.1

5.2

Clothing and footwear

0.7

-4.6

Housing

1.3

5.5

Household goods

-0.1

-0.8

Health

0.4

3.1

Transport

2

7.2

Information and communication

-1.1

-1.4

Recreation and leisure

0.1

-3.4

Education

0

4.7

Restaurants and accommodation

-1.1

2

Insurance and financial services

0.6

-1.8

Miscellaneous goods and services

0.3

3.6

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.

Data as at 7 September 2026 are published. The indicator values may change if there are any revisions made in the data sources after this date.

See also the consumer price index calculator and the prices section on our website.

More detailed data have been published in the statistical database.

When using Statistics Estonia’s data and graphs, please indicate the source.

For further information:

Annaliisa Köss
Media Relations Partner
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 5696 6484
press [at] stat.ee (press[at]stat[dot]ee)

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