Harmonized index of consumer prices, September 2002

The HICP rose 0.7 per cent from August to September. The increase was among other things caused by a rise in the tariffs on electricity and in the prices of clothing and petrol. HICP went up 1.2 per cent during the last 12 months. See the Consumer price index for more details.

Change from July to August in the EEA area: Up 0.1 per cent

The HICP for the EEA was 111.2 in August, up 0.1 per cent from July. Belgium faced the strongest increase in the consumer prices with 1.5 per cent. In Iceland the consumer prices decreased by 0.5 per cent.

The prices of transport services went up from July to August, particularly when it comes to passenger transport by air. Prices of restaurants- and accommodation and health services went up in the same period of time.

The prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages declined in the EEA from July to August partly due to a reduction in the prices of fruit and vegetables.

Year-to-year change in the EEA: 1.9 per cent

From August 2001 to August 2002 the EEA consumer prices went up 1.9 per cent. Ireland had the highest growth of 4.5 per cent, while Germany and Great Britain had the lowest growth of 1.0 per cent.

The prices of restaurants-- and accommodation services rose by 4.4 per cent in the EEA area from August 2001 to August 2002. The Netherlands and Ireland contributed the most to the growth with 7.3 and 7.0 per cent respectively. Educational expenditures had a rise of 4.1 per cent in the EEA area. Austria had a rise of 29.9 per cent, while Sweden on the other hand showed a decline of 27.7 per cent. Prices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco went up 3.7 per cent, where Spain was the main contributor with a rise by 7.2 per cent.

In advance, Eurostat estimated the year-to-year change in August in the Euro-zone to 2.1 per cent, which turned out to be the actual price growth. Expected growth in the consumer prices in the Euro-zone in September is 2.2 per cent. The HICP for the European Union (EU) increased by 1.9 per in August.