15 April, 1999
Inquiries: Ms Arja Kinnunen + 358 9 1734 3479, Ms
Mari Suviranta + 358 9 1734 3501
Harmonised Consumer Price Index of the EU: Ms Mari Suviranta +358 9
1734 3501
Director in charge: Mr Jarmo Hyrkkö
Inflation unchanged in March
According to Statistics Finland's Consumer Price Index, consumer prices rose by 0.8 per cent in the year to March. The rate of inflation was unchanged from February. From February to March, prices went up by 0.2 per cent.
Consumer prices rose from February to March
Increases in housing costs upheld inflation in March. In addition, the prices of local telephone calls and potatoes went up. Lower interest rates and a reduction in the price of coffee continued to curb inflation. The prices of computers and mobile telephones also went down.
In the February to March period, consumer prices rose by 0.2 per cent, primarily because the winter sales of clothing finished. Prices also went up for light fuel oil, an entry line in the national lottery and package tours. Lower interest rates and reductions in cucumber and tomato prices curbed price increases from February to March.
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Inflation indicators in Finland |
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| Point figure | Change on one year | Change on one month | |
| Consumer Price Index (1995=100), March | 103.7 | 0.8 % | 0.2 % |
| Cost of Living Index (1951:10=100), March | 1 441 | ||
| Harmonised Consumer Price Index of the EU (1996=100), March | 103.0 | 0.9 % | 0.2 % |
| Indicator of Underlying Inflation (1995=100), February |
102.3 |
0.7 % | 0.4 % |
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 are gathered by centralised collection.
Slowest February inflation rate in the EU in Germany
According to the Harmonised Consumer Price Index of the EU, the lowest February inflation rate of 0.1 per cent was recorded in Germany. The corresponding Finnish inflation rate was 0.9 per cent. Inflation was the fastest in Greece, were prices went up by 3.5 per cent. The averages for the EU Member States and the member countries of the EMU were 1.0 per cent and 0.8 per cent, respectively.
In March, the Finnish point figure on the Harmonised Consumer Price Index (1996=100) stood at 103.0 and the year-on-year change at 0.9 per cent. From February to March, the index rose by 0.2 per cent.
Source: Consumer Price Index 1999, March. Statistics Finland.