The annual change of the consumer price index mainly influenced by housing expenditures

Photo: Arvo Meeks / Lõuna-Eesti Postimees

According to Statistics Estonia, the change of the consumer price index was 0.0% in August 2013 compared to July and 2.9% compared to August of the previous year.

Goods were 2.3% and services 4.1% more expensive compared to August 2012.

Regulated prices of goods and services have stayed on the same level and non-regulated prices have risen by 3.9% compared to August of the previous year.

Compared to August 2012, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by housing expenditures and food, of which the first one gave nearly a half of the total increase and the second one over a third. The electricity that arrived at homes – which was 28.4% more expensive than a year before – accounted for 80% of the impact of housing expenditures. 5% more expensive meat and meat products gave a quarter, 11.6% more expensive vegetables a fifth and 12% more expensive fruit a sixth of the impact of food on the index. In August 2013, motor fuel was 4.7% cheaper than the year earlier.

The annual change of the consumer price index was last below 3% in August 2010, when it was also 2.9%.

In August compared to July, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by the 16% price decrease of vegetables, 2.9% price increase of heat energy, termination of sales of clothing and 15.8% price increase of plane tickets. Onions were 30% more expensive than in July and paprika 56% cheaper.

Change of the consumer price index by commodity groups, August 2013

Commodity group	August 2012 –   August 2013, %	July 2013 –   August 2013, %
TOTAL	2.9	0.0
Food and non-alcoholic beverages	4.2	-1.4
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco	5.4	-0.7
Clothing and footwear	4.8	2.4
Housing	8.2	1.3
Household goods	0.4	0.1
Health	7.1	-0.4
Transport	-3.5	0.6
Communications	-11.5	-1.9
Recreation and culture	2.7	0.6
Education	2.8	0.2
Hotels, cafés and restaurants	7.7	-0.6
Miscellaneous goods and services	2.7	0.7