Consumer price index was affected the most by transport in October
According to Statistics Estonia, the change of the consumer price index in October 2018 was 0.5% compared to September 2018 and 4.4% compared to October of the previous year.
Compared to October 2017, goods were 3.7% and services 5.7% more expensive. Regulated prices of goods and services have risen by 9.1% and non-regulated prices by 3.1% compared to October of the previous year.
Compared to October 2017, the consumer price index was affected the most by transport, which contributed nearly a third of the total increase of the index. Three quarters of the impact of transport was due to 20.1% more expensive petrol and 20.4% more expensive diesel fuel. Electricity, gas and other fuels contributed a fifth of the total increase. Compared to October of the previous year, the prices of electricity that reached homes have risen 11.7%, solid fuels 24.5%, heating energy 3.4% and gas 8.9%. Food and non-alcoholic beverages contributed a seventh of the total increase. Compared to October of the previous year, of food products, the biggest price increases were seen for frozen fruits and berries (26%), fresh vegetables (21%) and for eggs (19%) and the biggest price decrease for sugar (21%).
The previous time that the change of the consumer price index compared to the same month of the previous year was 4.4% or more was in March 2012 when the change was also 4.4%.
Compared to September, in October the consumer price index was affected the most by transport. Diesel fuel became 7.6% more expensive and petrol by 4.1% more expensive in a month. The plane tickets bought for October were 21% more expensive than the tickets bought for September. A greater impact on the monthly change was also exerted by 10% cheaper fruits and 2.8% cheaper electricity that reached homes, and by 5.2% more expensive vegetables.
| Commodity group | October 2017 – October 2018, % | September 2018 – October 2018, % |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL | 4.4 | 0.5 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 2.8 | -0.3 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 4.8 | -0.2 |
| Clothing and footwear | 1.5 | 1.7 |
| Housing | 7.0 | -0.7 |
| Household goods | 0.9 | -0.4 |
| Health | 4.9 | 0.3 |
| Transport | 10.1 | 3.9 |
| Communications | -4.1 | -0.2 |
| Recreation and culture | 3.5 | 0.5 |
| Education | 6.9 | 0.0 |
| Hotels, cafés and restaurants | 5.0 | -0.2 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 3.9 | 0.1 |
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.