Consumer price index in August

News
Posted on 7 September 2009, 11:00

According to Statistics Estonia, the consumer price index decreased by 0.9% in August 2009 compared to August of the previous year and was 0.0% compared to July 2009.

Compared to the same month of the previous year, the consumer price index has been in decline since the May of this year. In August goods were 2.6% cheaper and services 2.4% more expensive compared to August of the previous year. From goods food products were 2.5% and manufactured goods were 2.6% cheaper.

Regulated prices of goods and services have risen by 4.4% and non-regulated prices fallen by 2.5% compared to August of the previous year.

Compared to August of the previous year, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by the price decrease of food (-6%). Milk and dairy products (price decrease 15.6%) gave nearly a half and fresh fruits and vegetables over a third of the impact of food on the index. Fresh fruits were 15.9% and vegetables 28.5% cheaper compared to the same time a year ago.

In August compared to the previous month, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by the 2.2% price decrease of food that was to the extent of two thirds caused by the seasonal price decrease of fresh fruits and vegetables. The consumer price index was also more notably influenced by the price increase of motor fuel and by the end of sales of clothing and footwear.

Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, August 2009
Commodity group August 2008 –
August 2009, %
July 2009 –
August 2009, %
TOTAL -0.9 0.0
Food and non-alcoholic beverages -5.7 -2.1
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco 6.9 -0.5
Clothing and footwear 0.9 2.8
Housing 0.1 0.0
Household goods 2.9 0.1
Health 2.9 0.2
Transport -6.2 1.9
Communications 0.3 0.0
Recreation and culture -0.3 0.4
Education 5.8 0.2
Hotels, cafés and restaurants -0.9 -0.3
Miscellaneous goods and services 8.2 0.0