The consumer price index was affected the most by the termination of energy price mitigation measures in April

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Posted on 6 May 2022, 8:00

According to Statistics Estonia, in April 2022, the consumer price index increased by 3.6% compared to March 2022, and by 18.8% compared to April 2021. Goods were 14.4% and services 27.8% more expensive than in April last year.

Viktoria Trasanov, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that, compared to April 2021, the consumer price index was affected the most by housing-related price changes, which contributed over 40% of the total rise in the index. Electricity that reached homes was 119%, heat energy 57.7%, and pipeline gas 237.2% more expensive. “In April, the automatic compensation scheme for electricity, electricity network fees, district heating, pipeline gas and gas network fees came to an end,” explained Trasanov. Rents were 34.4% more expensive.

The price changes of food and non-alcoholic beverages and the price changes of transport both accounted for nearly a fifth of the total increase. Among food products, the biggest increase compared to April 2021 was recorded in the prices of potatoes (134.3%), other oils (57%), flour of cereals (37.7%), pasta products (36.9%), eggs (34.8%) and fresh fish (30.7%). Petrol was 32.5% and diesel fuel 48.6% more expensive.

The increase in the price index of educational and child care institutions resulted from last year’s decision by local governments to suspend kindergarten fees due to nationwide Covid restrictions last spring.  

Consumer price index (April 2021 = 100)

Compared to March, the biggest impact on the consumer price index came from housing-related price increases, which accounted for over 70% of the total rise. Electricity that reached homes was 28.6%, heat energy 23.8%, pipeline gas 96% and rents 12.5% more expensive. Compared to March, motor fuel was 3.8% cheaper in April.

Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, April 2022

Commodity group

April 2022 – April 2021, %

March 2022 – April 2022, %

TOTAL

18.8

3.6

Food and non-alcoholic beverages  

14.6

2.2

Alcoholic beverages and tobacco

3.9

0.2

Clothing and footwear

8.1

1.2

Housing

59.7

18.1

Household goods

12.7

1.4

Health

5.4

0.1

Transport

24.2

-0.9

Communications

-2.9

-0.2

Recreation and culture

9.7

2.1

Education

19.8

0.1

Hotels, cafés and restaurants

13.0

4.5

Miscellaneous goods and services

7.7

1.2

 

 

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.