Households’ payments in kindergartens, rates of change, 15 August 2005, January

The highest increase in household payments in public kindergartens took place in Western Norway, where fees increased by 0.6 per cent from January to August 2005. The increase followed a decrease of 0.7 per cent from August 2004 to January 2005. Agder/Rogaland, South Eastern Norway and Trøndelag had an increase in public fees of 0.3, 0.2 and 0.1 per cent respectively. Northern Norway is the only region where the fees were reduced in this period. The 0.2 per cent reduction is an adjustment of fees down towards the maximum level payment set by the government. Household payments in Oslo/Akershus and Hedmark/Oppland county remained unchanged.

The increase in private kindergarten fees from January 2005 to August 2005 averaged 0.5 per cent.

All private fees increased, but there were large variations between regions.

Price development in the last 12 months

There was a 0.8 per cent increase in public and private kindergarten fees from August 2004 to August 2005. While household payments for private kindergartens fell by 0.6 per cent, public kindergarten fees increased by 1.7 per cent in this period.

Public kindergarten fees in Northern Norway had the most substantial increase at 4.5 per cent while Western Norway had a fall in public fees by 0.1 per cent in the last twelve months. The remaining public kindergartens in the country had fee increases ranging from 0.1 to 3.4 per cent.

Household payments in private kindergartens fell in Oslo/Akershus and South Eastern region. Other private kindergartens in Norway had an increase in fees, with the exception of Western Norway where there was no change in private fees.