Harmonized index of consumer prices, November 2002

The HICP rose by 0.3 per cent from October to November. The increase was mainly caused by higher tariffs on electricity. The year-to-year change in the HICP was 1.8 per cent in November, up from 1.3 per cent in October. See Consumer price index for more details.

Change from September to October in the EEA area

The HICP for the EEA was 111.8 in October, up 0.2 per cent from September. Spain faced the strongest increase in the consumer prices with 0.9 per cent. Belgium, Germany and Netherlands on the other hand, had a decrease of 0.1 per cent in the consumer prices.

The prices of clothing and footwear went up from September to October, most likely as a result of seasonal changes. Spain contributed the most to the increase with a considerable price growth. The prices of petrol rose in October, of which Luxembourg and Austria were registered with the highest price increase. Educational expenditures went up as well.

Year-to-year change in the EEA

The consumer prices in the EEA went up 2.1 per cent from October 2001 to October 2002. Ireland had the highest growth of 4.4 per cent. Belgium, Germany and Norway on the other hand, had the lowest increase in the consumer prices with 1.3 per cent.

During the last 12 months the prices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco rose by 3.4 per cent. Except for Norway, the prices increased in all the countries in the EEA area. Educational expenditures and the prices of restaurant- and accommodation services contributed to the growth in the consumer prices as well with price increases of 5.0 and 4.3 per cent respectively. Transport expenditures went up in all the countries in the EEA from October 2001 to October 2002, with an overall growth of 2.9 per cent. The increase was among other things due to higher prices of petrol.

The prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 1.6 per cent in the EEA the last 12 months. The highest growth rates of 5.1 and 4.7 per cent were registered in Spain and Greece. In spite of a significant decline in the prices of clothing and footwear in the UK, Norway and Ireland the total price growth in the EEA was 0.6 per cent.

In advance, Eurostat estimated the year-to-year change in October in the Euro-zone to 2.2 per cent, while the actual price growth was 2.3 per cent. Expected growth in the consumer prices in the Euro-zone in November is 2.2 per cent. The HICP for the European Union (EU) increased by 2.1 per cent in October.