In March, the consumer price index was still influenced the most by increased fuel prices
According to Statistics Estonia, in March 2022, the consumer price index increased by 2.7% compared to February 2022 and by 15.2% compared to March 2021. Goods were 13.7% and services 18.1% more expensive than in March last year.
Viktoria Trasanov, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that, compared to March 2021, the consumer price index was affected the most by housing-related price changes, which contributed over a third of the total rise in the index. “Electricity that reached homes was 72.1%, central heating 27.4% and pipeline gas 72% more expensive. The price changes of transport and the price changes of food and non-alcoholic beverages each accounted for less than a fourth of the total increase. Petrol was 38.3% and diesel fuel 53.2% more expensive,” added Trasanov.
Among food products, the biggest increase compared to March 2021 was recorded in the prices of potatoes (127.3%), other oils (43.7%), fresh fish (30.6%), flour of cereals (27.6%) and coffee (27.2%).
The last time that the change in the consumer price index compared to the same month of the previous year was bigger than 15.2% was in November 1996 when it was 16.4%.
Compared to February, the biggest impact on the consumer price index came from the increased prices of motor fuel, which accounted for nearly a half of the total rise. Petrol was 13.8% and diesel fuel 25.2% more expensive.
| Commodity group | March 2021 – March 2022, % | February 2022 – March 2022, % |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL | 15.2 | 2.7 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 13.8 | 1.4 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 3.4 | 0.3 |
| Clothing and footwear | 5.4 | 3.0 |
| Housing | 35.4 | 3.9 |
| Household goods | 11.6 | 1.3 |
| Health | 5.2 | 0.5 |
| Transport | 25.3 | 8.8 |
| Communications | -2.8 | 1.0 |
| Recreation and culture | 8.0 | 0.7 |
| Education | 14.2 | 0.0 |
| Hotels, cafés and restaurants | 9.3 | 0.9 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 6.7 | 1.1 |
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