Consumer price index increased in May

According to Statistics Estonia, the consumer price index increased 3.0% in May 2010 compared to May of the previous year and 0.2% compared to April this year.

Goods were 3.8% and services 1.7% more expensive compared to May of the previous year. Food products were 1.7% and manufactured goods 5.5% more expensive.

Regulated prices of goods and services have risen by 11.7% and non-regulated prices by 0.5% compared to May of the previous year.

Compared to May of the previous year, the index was mainly influenced by the 28.6% price increase of motor fuel, which gave nearly a half of the total change. The prices of heating oil and fresh vegetables have increased the most (49.5% and 32.3%, respectively). Flour was by 18.6% and potatoes were by 16.4% cheaper.

In May compared to April, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by the price decrease of fresh vegetables, as well as by the price increase of dairy products and eggs. Fresh vegetables were by 13.5% cheaper, gas was by 11.8% more expensive and milk 9.6% more expensive than a month ago.

Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, May 2010
Commodity group	May 2009 – May 2010, %	April 2010 – May 2010, %
TOTAL	3.0	0.2
Food and non-alcoholic beverages	1.2	-0.1
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco	3.0	-0.3
Clothing and footwear	2.2	0.4
Housing	5.3	0.8
Household goods	-0.3	-0.1
Health	1.1	0.4
Transport	10.4	0.3
Communications	-0.2	-1.0
Recreation and culture	-1.3	0.5
Education	1.3	0.0
Hotels, cafés and restaurants	-0.9	0.8
Miscellaneous goods and services	2.2	-0.1

For further information:

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