In January, electricity had the biggest impact on the consumer price index
According to Statistics Estonia, in January 2022, the consumer price index changed by -0.1% compared to December 2021 and by 11.3% compared to January 2021. Goods were 9.0% and services 16.0% more expensive than in January last year.
Viktoria Trasanov, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that, compared to January 2021, the consumer price index was affected the most by housing-related expenditures, which contributed more than 40% of the total rise in the index. The electricity that reached homes was 52.6%, heat energy 42.5% and gas 79.6% more expensive. Both transport and food and non-alcoholic beverages contributed a fifth of the index rise. Year-on-year, petrol became 23.2% and diesel fuel 26.2% more expensive. Among food products, the biggest price increases compared to January 2021 were recorded for potatoes (106.6%), fresh vegetables (30.7%) and fresh fish (28.2%).
Compared to December 2021, the consumer price index was affected the most by price decreases of electricity and pipeline gas, price increase of food and the sales of clothing and footwear. “The main reason for lower prices of electricity and pipeline gas is the government decision to put a price cap on these and set the volumes sold at capped prices. In addition, in January, electricity was cheaper than in December,” said Trasanov.
As the consumption patterns of the population and prices continuously change, Statistics Estonia updates the weights system of the consumer price index and the representative goods each year. Starting from January 2022 index, the base prices used for calculations are the prices of December 2021. To ensure comparability with previous periods, the consumer price index will continue to be published on the base 1997 = 100.
The table includes the expenditure structure, i.e. the weights of commodity groups, of 2021 as well as the expenditure structure used since January 2022 index.
| Commodity group | Weight 2022, ‰ | Weight 2021, ‰ | Change, % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2021 – January 2022, % | January 2021 – January 2022, % | |||
| TOTAL | 1,000.0 | 1,000.0 | -0.1 | 11.3 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 223.3 | 235.5 | 4.0 | 9.3 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 54.5 | 62.1 | 1.1 | 3.4 |
| Clothing and footwear | 52.4 | 51.1 | -6.0 | 3.4 |
| Housing | 156.2 | 147.0 | -6.7 | 31.5 |
| Household goods | 70.8 | 72.3 | -0.4 | 7.0 |
| Health | 58.1 | 63.5 | 1.7 | 5.0 |
| Transport | 143.4 | 133.1 | 1.4 | 17.1 |
| Communications | 49.5 | 51.4 | -0.7 | -4.6 |
| Recreation and culture | 77.6 | 76.2 | -0.4 | 5.7 |
| Education | 10.6 | 10.0 | 0.3 | 2.9 |
| Hotels, cafés and restaurants | 41.8 | 36.3 | 0.9 | 6.5 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 61.7 | 61.5 | 1.1 | 4.8 |
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:
Kadri Kütt
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 9181