Consumer price index increased in April
According to Statistics Estonia, the percentage change of the consumer price index in April 2008 compared to April 2007 was 11.4%. The increase of the consumer price index that had slightly slowed down in March speeded up again in April.
This year compared with the same month of the previous year the change of consumer price index has remained around 11%. So far the highest price increase was in February when the annual increase was 11.3%. In March the price increase slightly slowed down, but speeded up again in April.
In April 2008 compared to April of the previous year, the prices of goods changed by 10.4%, of which the prices of food by 15.3% and the prices of manufactured goods by 6.5%. The prices of services increased 13.4%. Regulated prices of goods and services changed by 21.4% and non-regulated prices by 8.7%. The index was mainly influenced by the price increase of food and by the increase in the expenditures on housing. The prices of motor fuel also increased, accompanied by the increase in the prices of transport services. Dairy-, cereal- and meat products gave more than two thirds of the price increase of food. The biggest impact on the increase of expenditures on housing had the price increase of heat energy.
On average, the prices of goods and services in April were 1.0% higher than in March.
The consumer price index was mainly influenced by the increase in the prices of food and heat energy. Fresh vegetables and cereal- and meat products gave 80% of the price increase of food.
Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, April 2008
| Commodity group | April 2007 – April 2008, % |
March 2008 – April 2008, % |
| TOTAL | 11.4 | 1.0 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 17.6 | 2.0 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 8.6 | 0.9 |
| Clothing and footwear | 5.2 | 0.4 |
| Housing | 17.4 | 2.2 |
| Household goods | 4.1 | 0.5 |
| Health | 7.4 | 0.3 |
| Transport | 13.5 | 0.3 |
| Communications | -0.7 | 0.0 |
| Recreation and culture | 2.4 | -0.7 |
| Education | 8.8 | 0.4 |
| Hotels, cafés and restaurants | 14.7 | 1.1 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 11.5 | 1.5 |
For further information : Olga Nikiforova |
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