In April, food had the biggest impact on the monthly change of the consumer price index
According to Statistics Estonia, in April 2021, the consumer price index increased by 0.4% compared to March 2021 and by 1.9% compared to April 2020. Goods were 1.0% and services 3.3% more expensive than in April last year.
Viktoria Trasanov, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that, compared to April 2020, the consumer price index was influenced the most by price changes connected with transport. “Petrol was 13.5% more expensive and diesel fuel 1.6% cheaper. Vehicles became 6.1% more expensive, most of which was due to the increased prices of used cars and also bicycles,” noted Trasanov. The 20.3% more expensive electricity that reached homes also had a bigger impact on the change of the index. Among food products, the biggest rise compared to April 2020 was registered in the prices of fresh fish (16.3%), fresh vegetables (16%), flour mixes (13.9%) and baby food (11.7%), and the biggest fall in the price of potatoes (25.6%).
The index for education increased due to different implementation of benefits for kindergarten fees by local governments.
The last time that the change of the consumer price index compared to same month of the previous year was bigger than 1.9% was in February 2020 (2.0%).
Compared to March, the consumer price index was affected the most by higher prices of food. Prices rose by 8.1% for fresh vegetables, by 1.3% for meat and meat products, by 2.4% for fresh fruit and by 9.3% for fresh fish.
| Commodity group | April 2020 – April 2021, % |
March 2021 – |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL | 1.9 | 0.4 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 0.4 | 1.5 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 1.1 | -0.2 |
| Clothing and footwear | -3.4 | -0.7 |
| Housing | 3.6 | 0.2 |
| Household goods | -0.6 | 0.5 |
| Health | 4.0 | -0.1 |
| Transport | 6.5 | -0.1 |
| Communications | -2.8 | -0.1 |
| Recreation and culture | 2.9 | 0.5 |
| Education | 14.3 | -4.6 |
| Hotels, cafés and restaurants | -0.6 | 1.1 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 1.2 | 0.3 |
See also the consumer price index calculator and the prices section on the website.
For the statistical activity “Consumer price index”, the main representative of public interest is the Ministry of Finance, commissioned by whom Statistics Estonia collects and analyses data.
More detailed data have been published in the statistical database.
For further information:
Kaia-Liisa Tabri
Communications Partner
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 507 0521