The annual change in the consumer price index in November was affected most by electricity, gas and other fuels

News
Posted on 7 December 2018, 10:00

According to Statistics Estonia, the change of the consumer price index in November 2018 was -0.5% compared to October 2018 and 3.4% compared to November of the previous year.

Compared to November 2017, goods were 2.5% and services 5.0% more expensive. Regulated prices of goods and services have risen by 7.5% and non-regulated prices by 2.2% compared to November of the previous year.

Compared to November 2017, the consumer price index was affected the most by electricity, gas and other fuels, which contributed nearly one quarter of the total increase. Compared to November of the previous year, the prices of electricity that reached homes have risen by 16.9%, solid fuels 23.3%, heating energy 5.7% and gas 8.8%. More than a sixth of the total increase of the index was due to 8.1% more expensive petrol and 10.2% more expensive diesel fuel. Food and non-alcoholic beverages contributed a ninth of the total increase. Compared to November of the previous year, of food products, the biggest price increases were seen for fresh vegetables (19%), ready-made meals (13%) and potatoes (11%), and the biggest price decrease was seen for sugar (20%), fresh fish (14%) and butter (11%).

Compared to October, in November the consumer price index was affected the most by transport. The plane tickets bought for November were 37% cheaper than the tickets bought for October. Petrol turned 2.8% cheaper and diesel 1.6% cheaper over the month. A greater impact on the monthly change was also exerted by 4.2% more expensive electricity that reached homes and 2.3% more expensive heating energy.

Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, November 2018
Commodity group November 2017 – November 2018, % October 2018 – November 2018, %
TOTAL 3.4 -0.5
Food and non-alcoholic beverages 1.7 -0.1
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco 4.6 -0.6
Clothing and footwear 2.7 0.6
Housing 8.6 1.7
Household goods 1.3 0.5
Health 4.9 -0.1
Transport 2.5 -4.4
Communications -4.6 -0.4
Recreation and culture 4.4 -0.1
Education 6.9 0.0
Hotels, cafés and restaurants 3.8 -1.4
Miscellaneous goods and services 2.8 0.3

Statistics Estonia publishes the consumer price index on the 5th working day of each month, after the end of the reporting period. 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 the data necessary for conducting the statistical activity.