Consumer price index increased in October

According to Statistics Estonia, the percentage change of the consumer price index in October 2008 compared to September was 0.4% and compared to October 2007 9.8%.

In October compared to the previous month, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by the price increase of heat energy and gas (23.3% and 22.9%, respectively), as well as by the decrease in the prices of motor fuel (-7.5%).

In October 2008 compared to October of the previous year, the prices of goods had changed by 8.5%, of which the prices of food by 13.7% and the prices of manufactured goods by 4.4%. The prices of services had changed by 12.3%. Regulated prices of goods and services changed by 27.7% and non-regulated prices by 4.9%.

Compared to October 2007, the index was mainly influenced by the expenditures on housing, which accounted for over a quarter of the total change and of which the price increase of the heat energy gave two thirds. Food, also alcoholic beverages and tobacco each accounted for about a fifth; and motor fuel for over a tenth of the total change.

Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, October 2008

Commodity group	October 2007 – October 2008, %	September 2008 – October 2008, %
TOTAL	9.8	0.4
Food and non-alcoholic beverages	9.4	-0.2
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco	26.2	-0.3
Clothing and footwear	3.7	1.3
Housing	17.8	6.3
Household goods	5.0	0.9
Health	6.8	0.2
Transport	9.2	-3.3
Communications	-1.1	0.1
Recreation and culture	1.3	-0.7
Education	8.6	0.1
Hotels, cafés and restaurants	11.4	-0.3
Miscellaneous goods and services	6.9	0.2

For further information:

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