Monthly change of the consumer price index was mainly influenced by transport and alcoholic beverages in December

News
Posted on 8 January 2013, 10:00
According to Statistics Estonia, the change of the consumer price index was -0.1% in December 2012 compared to November and 3.5% compared to December 2011.

Goods were 3.1% and services 4.1% more expensive compared to December 2011.

Regulated prices of goods and services have risen by 6.0% and non-regulated prices by 2.6% compared to December 2011.

In December 2012 compared to December a year earlier, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by food, which gave nearly 40% of the total increase. Of which in turn almost a third gave 7.6% more expensive meat and meat products and a fifth 15% more expensive vegetables. Housing expenditures gave a third of the total increase of the index, of which in turn a half gave 11.3% more expensive heat energy. 5.6% more expensive alcoholic beverages and tobacco gave an eighth of the total increase of the index. In December 2012, motor fuel was 2.4% more expensive than a year earlier. Compared to the previous year, of food products, the prices of eggs and other fruits have increased the most (40% and 22%, respectively) and the prices of groats and coffee have decreased the most (8.3% and 7.5%, respectively). The change of the consumer price index remained below 3.5% last in August 2010 when it was 2.9%.

In December compared to November, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by the sales of alcoholic beverages (as a result of which this commodity group became 3.9% cheaper), price decrease of motor fuel (1.3%) and price increase of plane tickets (15.6%). During the month the prices of grapes and fresh cucumbers increased the most (22% and 30%, respectively) and the prices of mandarins decreased the most (14%).

Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, December 2012
Commodity group December 2011 –
December 2012, %
November 2012 –
December 2012, %
TOTAL 3.5 -0.1
Food and non-alcoholic beverages 5.4 -0.1
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco 5.6 -0.8
Clothing and footwear 6.4 -0.1
Housing 6.8 0.2
Household goods 1.7 -0.2
Health -0.9 -0.2
Transport 0.6 0.0
Communications -5.9 -0.1
Recreation and culture 1.1 0.2
Education 5.5 0.0
Hotels. cafés and restaurants 4.2 0.2
Miscellaneous goods and services 1.3 0.3

Starting from 12 June, data can be submitted to Statistics Estonia in the new self-service environment at uuringud.stat.ee or via the button “Go to self-service” at the top of Statistics Estonia's website.