Consumer price index in February

According to Statistics Estonia, the consumer price index decreased 0.1% in February 2010 compared to February of the previous year and increased 0.2% compared to January.

Goods were 0.8% more expensive and services 1.8% cheaper compared to February of the previous year. Food products were 3.1% cheaper and manufactured goods 4.3% more expensive.

Regulated prices of goods and services have risen by 7.6% and non-regulated prices fallen by 2.5% compared to February of the previous year.

Compared to February of the previous year, the prices of motor fuel have increased the most (31.4%), which also had the biggest influence on the index. The index was more notably influenced also by the 5.1% cheaper food, of which bread and cereals (price decrease 9.1%) gave one third and the 8.3% cheaper dairy products also gave a third.

In February compared to January, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by the 12.4% higher prices of fresh vegetables and by the end of sales of clothing. Compared to the previous month, the price of white bread decreased the most (5.9%).

Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, February 2010
Commodity group	February 2009 – February 2010, %	January 2010 – February 2010, %
TOTAL	-0.1	0.2
Food and non-alcoholic beverages	-4.7	0.2
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco	1.6	0.0
Clothing and footwear	2.5	1.2
Housing	-4.0	0.1
Household goods	-0.1	-0.1
Health	0.8	0.3
Transport	9.8	0.7
Communications	-0.6	-0.9
Recreation and culture	-2.8	0.1
Education	1.2	0.0
Hotels, cafés and restaurants	-2.4	0.3
Miscellaneous goods and services	2.9	0.0

For further information:

Viktoria Trasanov
Head of Price and Wages Statistics Department
Statistical Office of Estonia
Tel: +372 6259 240