In October, the annual change of the consumer price index was affected the most by food
Compared to October 2016, goods were 4.8% and services 2.0% more expensive. Regulated prices of goods and services have risen by 6.6% and non-regulated prices by 3.0% compared to October of the previous year.
Compared to October 2016, the consumer price index was affected the most by 7.9% more expensive food and non-alcoholic beverages, which contributed nearly a half of the total increase of the index. More than a fourth of the latter was contributed by 13.3% more expensive milk, dairy products and eggs, a fifth by 17.6% more expensive vegetables and a tenth by 11.3% more expensive fruit. 14.8% more expensive alcoholic beverages accounted for a fifth of the total increase of the index, of which 60% was contributed by 26% more expensive beer. The price increase of motor fuel also had a greater impact on the index. Petrol was 7.5% and diesel fuel 9% more expensive than in October 2016. Of food products, the biggest price increases were seen for butter (59%), potatoes (33%) and fresh vegetables (24%).
In October, compared to September, the consumer price index was affected the most by 3.5% less expensive electricity that reached homes. A greater impact on the monthly change of the index was also made by the establishing of a ceiling for covering the food costs of children in municipal preschool institutions in Tallinn, which covers the majority of the food costs and made preschool services for the citizens of Tallinn less expensive. Plane tickets purchased for October were 13% less expensive than tickets bought for September. Fresh vegetables were 12.5% more expensive than a month ago.
| Commodity group | October 2016 – October 2017, % | September 2017 – October 2017, % |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL | 3.8 | -0.2 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 7.9 | 0.4 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 12.1 | 0.5 |
| Clothing and footwear | 2.7 | 1.3 |
| Housing | 2.2 | -0.9 |
| Household goods | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Health | 0.4 | 0.7 |
| Transport | 2.5 | -0.8 |
| Communications | -5.5 | -0.1 |
| Recreation and culture | 1.3 | -0.1 |
| Education | -4.9 | -10.0 |
| Hotels, cafés and restaurants | 6.2 | -1.3 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 3.2 | -0.4 |
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.