The consumer price index increased faster in September

Lauri Veski, the Consumer Price Statistics Service Manager at Statistics Estonia, said that the increase in prices had been slower for several months but was faster again in September. “Year on year, the index rise was influenced the most by the higher costs of housing and transport. The index rise was slowed down by the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages which have fallen year on year,” added Veski.

Compared with September 2025, transport prices were mainly driven up by the 33.8% more expensive petrol and 58% more expensive diesel fuel. This increase in fuel prices has resulted from the ongoing armed conflict in the Middle East. Housing costs were primarily influenced by the rise in the prices of electricity (6.1%), natural gas through networks (44.5%), refuse collection (56.6%) and wood fuel (10.6%).

“Food and non-alcoholic beverages is the commodity group with the biggest weight in the consumer price index. Prices in this group fell by 1.2% year on year, which limited the overall index rise,” noted Veski.

Fuel and food prices increased compared with August

Compared with August, petrol prices were up by 9.5% and diesel fuel prices by 9.3% in September. The prices of clothing and footwear rose by 5.9% compared with August but were still 1.5% lower than in September last year. In September, electricity cost 4% more and natural gas through networks was 22.2% more expensive.

Compared with August, rental payments for housing decreased by 3.2% and childcare services were 30% cheaper. “In the case of the latter, the main contributor is the change in municipal kindergarten fees in Tallinn – starting from September, most families in Tallinn are exempt from paying the kindergarten fees,” explained Veski. Under tourism-related costs, hotel accommodation was 10.1% cheaper and international flights cost 13.8% less.

Food products were 0.5% more expensive in September than in August. The main contributors were the higher prices of vegetables (1.8%), fruits and nuts (1.9%) and milk, dairy products and eggs (0.4%).

Change in the consumer price index by commodity group, September 2026

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.

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

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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