Consumer price index affected the most by housing

Compared to July 2017, goods were 2.9% and services 4.4% more expensive. Regulated prices of goods and services have risen by 10.1% and non-regulated prices by 1.7% compared to July of the previous year.

Compared to July 2017, the consumer price index was affected the most by housing, which contributed nearly a third of the total increase. Over a half of the latter was contributed by electricity that reached homes, which became 16.9% more expensive. More than a fourth of the total increase was contributed by motor fuel. Petrol was 19.3% and diesel fuel 16.8% more expensive than in July 2017. A greater impact on the index came also from alcoholic beverages and tobacco, which were 9% and 7.6% more expensive, respectively. Compared to July of the previous year, the price of beer increased by 11.7%. Of food products, the biggest price increases were seen for frozen fruit and berries (26%) and eggs (22%), and the biggest price decreases for potatoes (30%) and sugar (23%).

Compared to June, in July the consumer price index was affected the most, on the one hand, by seasonal sales of clothing and footwear, and on the other hand, by housing where electricity that reached homes became 5.8% more expensive in a month. Alcoholic beverages also had a greater impact on the monthly change of the index, as after June discounts ended, there was a 3.1% price increase.

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.