Monthly change of the consumer price index was mainly influenced by transport and alcoholic beverages in December

News
Posted on 8 January 2013, 10:00

According to Statistics Estonia, the change of the consumer price index was -0.1% in December 2012 compared to November and 3.5% compared to December 2011.

Goods were 3.1% and services 4.1% more expensive compared to December 2011.

Regulated prices of goods and services have risen by 6.0% and non-regulated prices by 2.6% compared to December 2011.

In December 2012 compared to December a year earlier, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by food, which gave nearly 40% of the total increase. Of which in turn almost a third gave 7.6% more expensive meat and meat products and a fifth 15% more expensive vegetables. Housing expenditures gave a third of the total increase of the index, of which in turn a half gave 11.3% more expensive heat energy. 5.6% more expensive alcoholic beverages and tobacco gave an eighth of the total increase of the index. In December 2012, motor fuel was 2.4% more expensive than a year earlier. Compared to the previous year, of food products, the prices of eggs and other fruits have increased the most (40% and 22%, respectively) and the prices of groats and coffee have decreased the most (8.3% and 7.5%, respectively). The change of the consumer price index remained below 3.5% last in August 2010 when it was 2.9%.

In December compared to November, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by the sales of alcoholic beverages (as a result of which this commodity group became 3.9% cheaper), price decrease of motor fuel (1.3%) and price increase of plane tickets (15.6%). During the month the prices of grapes and fresh cucumbers increased the most (22% and 30%, respectively) and the prices of mandarins decreased the most (14%).

Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, December 2012
Commodity group December 2011 –
December 2012, %
November 2012 –
December 2012, %
TOTAL 3.5 -0.1
Food and non-alcoholic beverages 5.4 -0.1
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco 5.6 -0.8
Clothing and footwear 6.4 -0.1
Housing 6.8 0.2
Household goods 1.7 -0.2
Health -0.9 -0.2
Transport 0.6 0.0
Communications -5.9 -0.1
Recreation and culture 1.1 0.2
Education 5.5 0.0
Hotels. cafés and restaurants 4.2 0.2
Miscellaneous goods and services 1.3 0.3