Consumer Price Index in February

Compared to February 2018, goods were 1.2% and services 3.3% more expensive. Regulated prices of goods and services have risen by 2.5% and non-regulated prices by 1.8% compared to February of the previous year.

Compared to February 2018, the consumer price index was affected the most by housing, which accounted for 40% of the total increase. Of the latter, nearly three quarters was contributed by electricity, gas and other fuels. Compared to February 2018, solid fuels were 19.2%, electricity that reached homes 4.7%, heat energy 3.9% and gas 9.7% more expensive. The price increase of fresh vegetables was 39%, contributing nearly a fifth of the total increase. Compared to February 2018, petrol was 1.9% cheaper and diesel fuel was 3.5% more expensive. Of food products, in addition to fresh vegetables, the biggest year-on-year price increases were seen for potatoes (28%) and ready-made meals (15%), and the biggest price decreases for fresh fruit (17%), sugar (16%) and eggs (13%).

The previous time that the change of the consumer price index compared to the same month of the previous year was 2% or less was in November 2016, when the change was 1.0%.

Compared to January, in February, the consumer price index was affected the most by transport. Petrol became 3.4% and diesel fuel 4.8% more expensive. Electricity, gas and other fuels also had a greater impact on the index. Electricity that reached homes was 6.7% and heat energy 1.7% more expensive.

Statistics Estonia publishes the consumer price index on the 5th working day of each month, after the end of the reporting period. 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 the data necessary for conducting the statistical activity.