15 May 2000
Inquiries: Mr Timo Koskimäki +358 9 1734 3479, Ms
Mari Suviranta +358 9 1734 3501
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices: Ms Mari Ylä-Jarkko +358 9 1734
3310
Director in charge: Mr Jarmo Hyrkkö
Inflation 2.7 per cent in April
According to Statistics Finland, the year-on-year change in
consumer prices, i.e. inflation, was
2.7 per cent in April. The rate of inflation slowed down, for in
March it was 3.1 per cent. Inflation was sustained especially by
higher housing costs in April. The effect of higher petrol and
light fuel oil prices on inflation was still considerable, although
their prices started to go down in April.
Higher housing costs pushed inflation up by 0.9 percentage points in April. This was primarily due to higher prices of dwellings, rents and light fuel oil. The direct impact of higher petrol prices on inflation amounted to 0.6 percentage points. In addition, the prices of restaurant services and package tours, and health care charges also rose compared to April 1999.
In April, inflation was curbed by reductions in the prices of electricity and used cars. The prices of mobile telephone calls also went down.
From March to April, consumer prices went up by 0.3 per cent. This was especially due to increases in housing loan interest rates and dwelling prices. The restaurant prices of alcoholic beverages and package tours also rose. In contrast, petrol and light fuel oil prices fell from March to April.
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|
Inflation indicators in Finland, April 2000 |
|||
|
Point figure |
Change on one year |
Change on |
|
|
Consumer Price Index (1995=100) |
107.2 |
2.7 % |
0.3 % |
|
Cost of Living Index (1951:10=100) |
1,490 |
||
|
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (1996=100) |
106.5 |
2.5 % |
0.2 % |
Each mid-month, Statistics Finland interviewers collect over 50,000 prices from approximately 2,000 outlets for the Consumer Price Index. In addition, some 600 items of price data are gathered by centralised collection.
Inflation in EU countries 1.9 per cent in March
According to the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, the rate of inflation in the EU Member States was 1.9 per cent in March. Inflation was unchanged from February. Inflation in the EU was fastest in Ireland, at 5.0 per cent, and slowest in Great Britain, at 0.7 per cent. The corresponding figure for Finland stood at 3.2 per cent. In the member countries of the EMU, consumer prices went up by 2.1 per cent in March.
In April, the Finnish point figure on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (1996=100) stood at 106.5 and the year-on-year change at 2.5 per cent. From March to April, the index rose by 0.2 per cent. Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Communities will publish the EU's Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices for April on 17 May.
Source: Consumer Price Index 2000, April. Statistics Finland.