According to Statistics Estonia, the change of the consumer price index was 0.7% in March 2013 compared to February and 3.5% compared to March of the previous year.
Inflation was mainly influenced by rise in prices of flight tickets
Goods were 2.4% and services 5.5% more expensive compared to March of the previous year.
Regulated prices of goods and services have risen by 1.9% and non-regulated prices by 4.0% compared to March of the previous year.
Compared to March 2012, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by housing expenditures, which gave a half of the total increase. Of which in turn two thirds gave 30% more expensive electricity. Food gave over a third of the total increase, of which 7.4% more expensive meat products accounted for 30% and respectively 16% and 12% more expensive vegetables and fruit gave 40%. In March 2013, motor fuel was 3.6% cheaper than a year earlier. Compared to the same period of the previous year, of food products, the prices of potatoes have increased the most (50%) and the prices of sugar have decreased the most (8%).
In March compared to February, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by 35% more expensive plane tickets and 1.5% price increase of alcoholic beverages and 4.8% price increase of tobacco products, of which the last one was caused by arriving to the market of tobacco products with new excise tax stamps. 3.4% cheaper communication services and 2.8% more expensive motor fuel. During the month, of food products, the prices of paprika and tomatoes increased the most (40% and 38%, respectively) and the prices of grapes decreased the most (11%).
Commodity group | March 2012 – March 2013, % | February 2013 – March 2013, % |
---|---|---|
TOTAL | 3.5 | 0.7 |
Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 5.1 | 0.3 |
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 5.0 | 2.3 |
Clothing and footwear | 5.1 | 2.0 |
Housing | 10.3 | 0.4 |
Household goods | 1.2 | -0.1 |
Health | 6.0 | 2.9 |
Transport | -2.8 | 0.9 |
Communications | -7.8 | -0.1 |
Recreation and culture | 0.9 | 0.7 |
Education | 2.7 | 0.0 |
Hotels, cafés and restaurants | 5.5 | 0.2 |
Miscellaneous goods and services | 1.1 | 0.5 |