In March the monthly change of the consumer price index was mainly influenced by rise in prices of flight tickets

News
Posted on 5 April 2013, 11:00

According to Statistics Estonia, the change of the consumer price index was 0.7% in March 2013 compared to February and 3.5% compared to March of the previous year.

Goods were 2.4% and services 5.5% more expensive compared to March of the previous year.

Regulated prices of goods and services have risen by 1.9% and non-regulated prices by 4.0% compared to March of the previous year.

Compared to March 2012, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by housing expenditures, which gave a half of the total increase. Of which in turn two thirds gave 30% more expensive electricity. Food gave over a third of the total increase, of which 7.4% more expensive meat products accounted for 30% and respectively 16% and 12% more expensive vegetables and fruit gave 40%. In March 2013, motor fuel was 3.6% cheaper than a year earlier. Compared to the same period of the previous year, of food products, the prices of potatoes have increased the most (50%) and the prices of sugar have decreased the most (8%).

In March compared to February, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by 35% more expensive plane tickets and 1.5% price increase of alcoholic beverages and 4.8% price increase of tobacco products, of which the last one was caused by arriving to the market of tobacco products with new excise tax stamps. 3.4% cheaper communication services and 2.8% more expensive motor fuel. During the month, of food products, the prices of paprika and tomatoes increased the most (40% and 38%, respectively) and the prices of grapes decreased the most (11%).

Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, March 2013
Commodity group March 2012 –
March 2013, %
February 2013 –
March 2013, %
TOTAL 3.5 0.7
Food and non-alcoholic beverages 5.1 0.3
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco 5.0 2.3
Clothing and footwear 5.1 2.0
Housing 10.3 0.4
Household goods 1.2 -0.1
Health 6.0 2.9
Transport -2.8 0.9
Communications -7.8 -0.1
Recreation and culture 0.9 0.7
Education 2.7 0.0
Hotels, cafés and restaurants 5.5 0.2
Miscellaneous goods and services 1.1 0.5