According to Statistics Estonia, the percentage change of the consumer price index in the 1st quarter of 2008 compared to the 1st quarter of 2007 was 11.1%.
The increase of the consumer price index in the 1st quarter was the biggest of the last quarters. The consumer price index started to increase rapidly in the second half of 2007 — in the 2nd quarter the index changed 5.7% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. In the 3rd quarter the index changed 6.4% and in the 4th quarter 9.0%, respectively.
In the 1st quarter of 2008 compared to the same quarter of the previous year, the prices of goods changed by 10.2%, of which the prices of food by 14.6% and the prices of manufactured goods by 6.7%. The prices of services increased 12.8%. The consumer price index was mainly influenced by the increase in the prices of food and motor fuel, as well as by the increase in the expenditures on housing.
On average, the prices of goods and services were 3.6% higher in the 1st quarter of 2008 than in the 4th quarter of 2007. The consumer price index was mainly influenced by the increase in the prices of food, heat energy, heating materials and motor fuel.
Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, 1st quarter 2008
| Commodity group | 4th quarter 2007 –
1st quarter 2008, % | 1st quarter 2007 –
1st quarter 2008, % |
| TOTAL | 3.6 | 11.1 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 4.9 | 16.6 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 5.2 | 8.7 |
| Clothing and footwear | -1.9 | 4.8 |
| Housing | 4.8 | 15.3 |
| Household goods | 1.4 | 4.3 |
| Health | 2.3 | 8.1 |
| Transport | 6.8 | 14.0 |
| Communications | -0.6 | -0.9 |
| Recreation and culture | 1.3 | 3.1 |
| Education | 3.0 | 8.0 |
| Hotels, cafés and restaurants | 3.0 | 15.4 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 2.7 | 11.4 |
| For further information: Viktoria Trasanov
Head of Price and Wages Statistics Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel: +372 625 9240 | |
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