Electricity prices rose by 18.3% YoY last month, which had the biggest impact on the Estonian consumer price index.
In March, the consumer price index fell by 0.2% MoM, but rose by 1.1% YoY, data from Statistics Estonia showed.
Goods were 0.5% and services 2% more expensive than in March last year.
Viktoria Trasanov, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, said compared to March 2020, the consumer price index was affected the most by an 18.3% more expensive electricity that reached homes.
“Diesel fuel was 4.7% cheaper and petrol 4.5% more expensive. Among food products, prices rose the most for flour mixes – by 13.2% and fresh vegetables by 10.3%, while the prices of potatoes and olive oil fell by 22.3% and 10.3%, respectively,” he said.
Compared to February, the consumer price index was affected the most by an 11.3% cheaper electricity that reached homes. A bigger impact came also from a 3.9% price increase of motor fuel and price changes of food products, where fresh vegetables were 19.7% and fresh fish 19.8% more expensive and meat and meat products were 2.4% cheaper.
The index for education decreased due to the decision of local authorities not to charge kindergarten fees during the nationwide restrictions. (ERR/Business World Magazine)