Consumer Price Index in December
According to Statistics Estonia, the change of the consumer price index in December 2018 was -0.3% compared to November 2018 and 3.4% compared to December 2017.
Compared to December 2017, goods were 2.1% and services 5.9% more expensive. Regulated prices of goods and services have risen by 6.6% and non-regulated prices by 2.6% compared to December 2017.
Compared to December 2017, the consumer price index was affected the most by housing, which contributed nearly 40% of the total increase of the index. Electricity that reached homes turned 18.4% more expensive, solid fuels 20.7%, heating energy 5.8% and gas 8.8% more expensive compared to December 2017. Food and non-alcoholic beverages and alcoholic beverages and tobacco contributed each a ninth of the total increase. Compared to December 2017, petrol was 1.8% more expensive and diesel fuel 5.4% more expensive. Of food products, the biggest price increases compared to December 2017 were seen for fresh vegetables (27%), ready-made meals (12%) and potatoes (12%) and the biggest price decreases for sugar (24%), butter (13%) and fresh fish (12%).
Compared to November, the consumer price index in December was affected the most by transport. Petrol turned 6.6% cheaper and diesel fuel 4.3% cheaper over the month, while the plane tickets bought for December were 15% more expensive than the tickets bought for November.
| Commodity group | December 2017 – December 2018, % | November 2018 – December 2018, % |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL | 3.4 | -0.3 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 1.8 | 0.0 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 5.8 | -0.6 |
| Clothing and footwear | 1.2 | -1.5 |
| Housing | 9.2 | 0.0 |
| Household goods | 1.9 | -0.1 |
| Health | 4.8 | 0.1 |
| Transport | 0.5 | -1.9 |
| Communications | -4.8 | -0.4 |
| Recreation and culture | 7.1 | 2.1 |
| Education | 6.8 | 0.0 |
| Hotels, cafés and restaurants | 3.6 | -0.8 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 2.9 | 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.