Consumer price index in March
According to Statistics Estonia, the percentage change of the consumer price index in March 2009 compared to February was -0.5% and compared to March 2008 was 2.0%.
The change of the consumer price index compared to the same month of the previous year was below 2% last in April 2004, when it was 1.3%.
In March 2009 compared to March of the previous year, the prices of goods had changed by -0.3%, of which the prices of food products had increased by 5.0% and the prices of manufactured goods had decreased by -4.7%. The prices of services had increased by 6.5%. Regulated prices of goods and services changed by 6.8% and non-regulated prices by 0.6%.
Compared to March 2008, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by alcoholic beverages and tobacco (the price increase together 19.9%), by the price decrease of motor fuel (23.3%) and by the price increase of heat energy (19.1%).
In March compared to the previous month, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by the price decrease of heat energy by 7%. The decrease of rental prices, special sales of cars and the decrease in the prices of milk and dairy products had also a remarkable impact on the consumer price index.
Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, March 2009
| Commodity group | March 2008 – March 2009, % | February 2009 – March 2009, % |
| TOTAL | 2.0 | -0.5 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 0.1 | -0.3 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 19.9 | -0.4 |
| Clothing and footwear | 0.4 | 1.1 |
| Housing | 7.2 | -2.9 |
| Household goods | 3.3 | -0.5 |
| Health | 5.7 | -0.1 |
| Transport | -10.2 | -0.3 |
| Communications | -0.8 | 0.0 |
| Recreation and culture | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Education | 6.3 | 0.0 |
| Hotels, cafés and restaurants | 3.6 | -0.2 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 7.3 | -0.1 |