January consumer price index up 3.5 percent on year
According to information released by Statistics Estonia on Wednesday, the consumer price index (CPI) in January 2018 was up 0.4 percent compared to the previous month and 3.5 percent on year.
Goods were 4.4 percent and services 1.8 percent more expensive compared to January 2017. Meanwhile, regulated prices of goods and services rose by 7.5 percent and non-regulated prices by 2.4 percent on year.
Compared to January 2017, the CPI was affected the most by food and non‑alcoholic beverages, which contributed 40 percent of the total increase of the index. The prices of milk, dairy products and eggs increased 6.4 percent, fruit 13.3 percent and vegetables 11.5 percent. Compared to the previous year, of food products, the biggest price increases were seen in eggs (38 percent), butter (33 percent) and potatoes (24 percent).
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco accounted for over one-fifth of the total increase of the index, and one half of the impact of alcoholic beverages and tobacco came from 23.8 percent more expensive beer.
Motor fuel contributed another fifth of the total increase, as gasoline was 12.8 percent and diesel fuel 12.1 percent more expensive than in January 2017.
Compared to December 2017, the CPI in January was affected the most by large-scale sales of clothing and footwear, while 4.1 percent more expensive fuel and 3.5 percent more expensive household electricity also had a greater impact on the index.
Editor: Aili Vahtla