Inflation in September ran at 2.2% YoY, according to the government agency Statistics Estonia. The sectors exerting the most impact were food and clothing, though there was a slight fall of -0.2% MoM.
Consumer price index for services saw a 3.5% rise, and goods saw a 1.4% rise.
Regulated prices of goods and services fell by 0.6%, while non-regulated prices rose by 2.9%, Statistics Estonia reports.
Inflation was affected the most by the price increase in food and non-alcoholic beverages. The biggest impact on the latter came from a 13% rise in the price of vegetables, and a 5.4% increase in the price of flour-based products.
The biggest price increases were seen in potatoes (+17%), fresh vegetables (+16%) and rice (+16%), while the largest drops occurred with fresh fish prices (-16%).
Alcoholic beverages were 6.8% cheaper in September 2019 than the same time in 2018, perhaps influenced by the government’s slashing of excise duties on wines.
Diesel prices saw a rise of 0.4%, whereas petrol worked out 0.7% cheape.
As compared with August, end of season sales of clothing and footwear exerted the strongest impact, Statistics Estonia reported, as well as the 1.5% fall in motor fuel and an 8% fall in vegetable prices, despite the year-long trend for increase. (ERR/Business World Magazine)