Consumer price index up 1.3 percent in February

According to Statistics Estonia, the consumer price index rose by 1.3 percent from January to February, and by 3.4 percent compared to February the previous year.
Compared to February 2016, goods were 3.7 percent and services 2.7 percent more expensive. Regulated prices of goods and services rose by 7.5 percent, and non-regulated prices by 2.3 percent compared to February 2016.
Compared to February 2016, the consumer price index was affected the most by rising motor fuel prices. Compared to February of the previous year, diesel fuel was 25.8 percent and petrol 22.7 percent more expensive. The 4.1 percent increase in prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages also had a greater impact, as well as a registered rise in alcoholic beverages (by 5.2 percent) and tobacco (by 8.7 percent). Compared to February 2016, milk, dairy products, and eggs were 7.4 percent and sugar and confectionery 6.4 percent more expensive. Among food products, the biggest price increases were seen for sugar (by 28 percent), butter (by 24 percent) and fresh fish (21 percent).
Compared to January, in February the consumer price index was affected the most by transport. Motor fuel prices rose by 4.9 percent, and plane tickets bought for February were on average 37 percent more expensive than tickets for January. A greater impact on the index came also from the 1.6 percent increase in the prices of food, the main contributors to which were vegetables, which were 7.5 percent more expensive, and sugar and confectionery, which were 3.5 percent more expensive.
The previous time that the monthly change of the consumer price index was 1.3 percent or greater was in March 2010, when it was also 1.3 percent.
Editor: Dario Cavegn
Source: Statistics Estonia