Consumer price index increased in 2007

According to Statistics Estonia, the percentage change of the consumer price index in 2007 compared to the average of 2006 was 6.6%. The consumer price index was mainly influenced by the expenditures on housing and food.

The price change was as follows:

of goods	4.8%
foodstuffs	8.0%
manufactured goods	2.3%
services	10.0%

In 2007 compared to the average of 2006, the prices of heat energy increased by 19% and the prices of heating materials by 25.1%. This was partially caused by the increase of the rate of value added tax from 5% to 18% since 1 July, but it was not the only reason. The prices of gas also increased significantly, e.g. for private consumer 26.9%. The prices of food increased 9.9%, whereas the prices of cereal products increased on average 15.4% and the prices of dairy products 12.7%. In case of both products, the price increase was higher in the last months of the year.

Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, 2007

Commodity group	2006–2007, %
TOTAL	6.6
Food and non-alcoholic beverages	9.3
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco	4.1
Clothing and footwear	3.6
Housing	14.6
Household goods	3.5
Health	7.9
Transport	2.7
Communications	-1.2
Recreation and culture	3.3
Education	5.4
Hotels, cafés and restaurants	10.1
Miscellaneous goods and services	4.7

For further information:

Viktoria Trasanov
Head of Price and Wages Statistics Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel: +372 625 9240