Consumer price index, 15 April 2006

The CPI was 117.9 (1998=100) in April 2006, compared to 114.8 in April 2005. This is equivalent to an increase of 2.7 per cent in the last 12 months, up by 0.3 percentage points from March.

Price increases in energy products from March to April 2006

After price increases in the first quarter of 2006, electricity tariffs increased further with a significant jump of 8.9 per cent in April. Petrol prices also showed a clear 4.6 per cent increase in April. Prices of energy products accounted for more than half of the contribution to the CPI growth in April.

Clothing prices also contributed to the CPI growth in April with an increase of 1.7 per cent. Despite price increases in clothing in the three last months, the price level is still below the December level. Footwear prices went up 1.3 per cent.

A number of products and services related to recreation and culture, such as boats and boating equipment, newspapers and periodicals, and sports and leisure services showed a price increase since the last survey.

An increase in postal service prices was also registered in April.

Energy products pulled up the CPI in the last 12 months

CPI increased by 2.7 per cent from April 2005 to April 2006. Energy products are the biggest contributor to the year-to-year CPI growth in April. Electricity tariffs are 35.8 per cent higher in April this year compared to the same period last year. Electricity prices have shown substantial growth, while the cost of electricity transport fell slightly in the same period. Petrol prices increased also in the last twelve months with a 9.2 per cent increase. From April 2005 to April 2006, the CPI excluding energy products (CPI-AE) increased by 1.1 per cent.

A number of services registered price increases. Health services showed a strong price increase of 8.4 per cent. Price increases were also registered in services related to recreation and culture and for accommodation services.

Prices of audio-visual equipment and social protection services fell by 8.4 and 11.3 per cent respectively, contributing to dampen the CPI growth.

Jump in the CPI year-to-year growth

The year-to-year growth in CPI rose from 2.4 per cent in March to 2.7 per cent in April. The increase was mainly caused by the development in electricity tariffs. Tariffs on electricity increased in April by 8.9 per cent while only a slight increase was registered in April last year. The prices of food, newspapers and periodicals also contributed to this development, but to a lesser degree.

The development in rentals and petrol prices contributed to dampen the year-to-year growth.

The year-to-year growth in CPI adjusted for tax changes (CPI-AT) was 2.6 per cent in April, an increase in the year-to-year growth of 0.4 percentage points from March. The year-to-year growth in the CPI-ATE stood at 0.8 per cent, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points from last month.