Households’ payments in kindergartens, rates of change, 15 August 2003, January

From January to August 2003 the public kindergarten fees decreased by 6.0 per cent. In contrast, the fees rose by 1.2 per cent from August 2002 to January 2003. The last year public kindergarten fees have declined by 4.9 per cent. From January to August 2003 the private kindergarten fees fell by 4.6 per cent. In August the government increased the kindergarten subsidy to the public and private kindergartens by more than 19 and almost 33 per cent respectively.

Some of the municipals and private kindergartens have already reduced the fees, while some are considering reducing the payment. The survey is carried out twice a year - in August and in January. Any possible changes in the payments among the kindergartens that are considering changes will be reflected in the Consumer Price Index in January 2004.

Change from January to August

The largest decline in the public kindergarten fees occurred in the region of Oslo and Akershus, with a fall of 15.4 per cent from January to August 2003. In Trøndelag the public kindergarten fees declined by almost 6 per cent. Western Norway was the only region registered with slightly increased kindergarten fees during the last six months.

From January to August the fees in the private kindergartens decreased by 4.6 per cent. In contrast to the fees in the public kindergartens, the private kindergarten fees fell in all the regions.

Year-to-year change: Large regional differences

The fees in public kindergartens declined by 4.9 per cent from August 2002 to August 2003. The fees in the region of Oslo and Akershus fell by 13.4 per cent during the last 12 months, which was the largest reduction in the public kindergarten fees. In Trøndelag the fees declined by 4.4 per cent. Western Norway was the only region where the fees in public kindergartens rose slightly - by 1.5 per cent.

The fees in the private kindergartens decreased by 3.4 per cent from August 2002 to August 2003.