In March, the annual change in consumer price index was mainly influenced by housing expenditures

News
Posted on 9 April 2012, 11:00
According to Statistics Estonia, the change in the consumer price index in March 2012 was 1.0% compared to February and 4.4% compared to March of the previous year.

Goods were 3.6% and services 5.9% more expensive compared to March 2011.

Regulated prices of goods and services have risen by 10.6% and non-regulated prices by 2.3% compared to March of the previous year.

Compared to March 2011, the index was mainly influenced by household expenditures which accounted for more than 40% of the total increase, whereas the price increase of heat energy (up 17.7%), electricity (up 13.7%) and gas (up 11.7%) accounted for three fourths of the increase in housing expenditures. Food and non-alcoholic beverages accounted for a sixth of the total increase and the 11.5% price increase of motor fuel accounted for a seventh of the total increase. Compared to March 2011, the prices of eggs (28%) and vegetable oil (22%) have increased the most of all food products. In March 2012, potatoes were 56% cheaper and fresh vegetables 12% cheaper than in the same period last year.

In March, compared to February, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by the price of transport, food and non-alcoholic beverages, and alcoholic beverages and tobacco – each of these accounted for one fourth of the total increase. Motor fuel was 2.9% more expensive and plane tickets were 28% more expensive, compared to February. The food index was mainly influenced by the 13.4% price increase of fresh vegetables and the 16.5% price increase of eggs. The 7.6% price increase of tobacco products was caused by new tobacco excise duty rates that entered into force on 1 January 2012, and the fact that a great volume of tobacco products with the new excise stamps arrived in shops in March.

Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, March 2012
Commodity group March 2011 –
March 2012, %
February 2012 –
March 2012, %
TOTAL 4.4 1.0
Food and non-alcoholic beverages 2.9 1.0
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco 6.8 2.9
Clothing and footwear 5.1 1.3
Housing 11.0 0.4
Household goods 2.8 0.0
Health -0.5 0.5
Transport 5.0 1.9
Communications -8.3 -0.5
Recreation and culture 1.7 0.7
Education 5.9 0.0
Hotels, cafés and restaurants 6.6 0.2
Miscellaneous goods and services 2.7 0.4

Starting from 12 June, data can be submitted to Statistics Estonia in the new self-service environment at uuringud.stat.ee or via the button “Go to self-service” at the top of Statistics Estonia's website.