In April the annual change of the consumer price index was mainly influenced by housing expenditures

News
Posted on 8 May 2013, 11:00
According to Statistics Estonia, the change of the consumer price index was -0.1% in April 2013 compared to March and 3.1% compared to April of the previous year.

Goods were 2.1% and services 4.9% more expensive compared to April of the previous year.

Regulated prices of goods and services have risen by 1.0% and non-regulated prices by 3.8% compared to April of the previous year.

Compared to April 2012, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by housing expenditures, which gave over a half of the total increase. Of which in turn two thirds gave 28% more expensive electricity and a seventh 4.6% more expensive heat energy. Food gave over 40% of the total increase, of which 6.3% more expensive meat products accounted for a quarter and respectively 26% and 23% more expensive vegetables and fruit gave more than 40%. In April 2013, motor fuel was 6.6% 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 (61%) and the prices of coffee have decreased the most (14%). After Easter eggs were also 20% cheaper.

In April compared to March, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by 16% cheaper plane tickets and 1.4% price decrease of motor fuel. Also electricity was 1.3% and heat energy 1.1% cheaper. Compared to the previous month, the prices of fruit increased by 6.1% and the prices of vegetables by 3.2%. During a month, of food products, prices of Chinese cabbage increased two times and the prices of cucumbers decreased by a third.

Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, April 2013
Commodity group April 2012 –
April 2013, %
March 2013 –
April 2013, %
TOTAL 3.1 -0.1
Food and non-alcoholic beverages 5.2 0.4
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco 4.9 0.3
Clothing and footwear 5.3 0.2
Housing 9.7 -0.2
Household goods 1.4 0.2
Health 6.2 0.3
Transport -4.6 -1.4
Communications -9.2 -1.6
Recreation and culture 0.9 -0.2
Education 2.7 0.0
Hotels. cafés and restaurants 6.4 1.9
Miscellaneous goods and services 0.8 0.8