The annual change of the consumer price index in August was mainly influenced by housing expenditures

News
Posted on 6 September 2013, 11:00
According to Statistics Estonia, the change of the consumer price index was 0.0% in August 2013 compared to July and 2.9% compared to August of the previous year.

Goods were 2.3% and services 4.1% more expensive compared to August 2012.

Regulated prices of goods and services have stayed on the same level and non-regulated prices have risen by 3.9% compared to August of the previous year.

Compared to August 2012, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by housing expenditures and food, of which the first one gave nearly a half of the total increase and the second one over a third. The electricity that arrived at homes – which was 28.4% more expensive than a year before – accounted for 80% of the impact of housing expenditures. 5% more expensive meat and meat products gave a quarter, 11.6% more expensive vegetables a fifth and 12% more expensive fruit a sixth of the impact of food on the index. In August 2013, motor fuel was 4.7% cheaper than the year earlier.

The annual change of the consumer price index was last below 3% in August 2010, when it was also 2.9%.

In August compared to July, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by the 16% price decrease of vegetables, 2.9% price increase of heat energy, termination of sales of clothing and 15.8% price increase of plane tickets. Onions were 30% more expensive than in July and paprika 56% cheaper.

Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, August 2013
Commodity group August 2012 –
August 2013, %
July 2013 –
August 2013, %
TOTAL 2.9 0.0
Food and non-alcoholic beverages 4.2 -1.4
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco 5.4 -0.7
Clothing and footwear 4.8 2.4
Housing 8.2 1.3
Household goods 0.4 0.1
Health 7.1 -0.4
Transport -3.5 0.6
Communications -11.5 -1.9
Recreation and culture 2.7 0.6
Education 2.8 0.2
Hotels, cafés and restaurants 7.7 -0.6
Miscellaneous goods and services 2.7 0.7