Home > Statistics > Consumer price index > 2008 > September > Inflation 4.7 per cent in September

Published: 14 October 2008

Inflation 4.7 per cent in September

The year-on-year change in consumer prices, i.e. inflation, calculated by Statistics Finland was the same in September as in August, namely 4.7 per cent.

Consumer prices were pushed up most in the year by increases in the prices of food and housing. The cost of food went up mostly due to risen prices of dairy products, but the prices of meat and cereal products increased as well. The biggest reasons for the risen housing costs were increases in energy prices, rents and interest rates. Inflation was also pushed up by risen prices of automotive fuels and restaurant and café services, and increases in the retail prices of alcoholic beverages from last year's September. The rise in consumer prices was mainly held back in September by reductions in the prices of passenger cars and telephone call charges.

From August to September, consumer prices went up by 0.5 per cent, primarily due to increases in the prices of clothing and food.

Each mid-month, Statistics Finland interviewers collect around 50,000 prices on 497 commodities from approximately 2,700 outlets for the Consumer Price Index. In addition, some 1,000 items of price data are gathered by centralised collection.

Finland's inflation indicators, September 2008

	Point figure	Year-on-year change	Month-on-month change
Consumer Price Index 2005=100	109.6	4.7%	0.5%
Cost-of-living Index 1951:10=100	1,750
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices 2005=100	108.1	4.7%	0.6%

According to preliminary data, inflation in the EMU countries was 3.6 per cent in September

According to the preliminary data on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, the rate of inflation in the EMU countries was 3.6 per cent in September. In August it stood at 3.8 per cent. The corresponding figure for Finland was 4.7 per cent in September.

The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices does not include owner-occupancy, games of chance, interests of consumption and other credits or levies such as the vehicle tax. The consumption items included in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices as well the rules governing its compilation have been defined in EU regulations.

Eurostat's estimate of inflation in the EMU area is based on preliminary data from EMU Member States and on the price development of energy. Eurostat will publish detailed data on Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices for September on 15 October.

Source: Consumer Price Index 2008, September. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Mr Juhani Pekkarinen +358 9 1734 3476, Ms Christina Telasuo +358 9 1734 3472,
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices: Christina Telasuo +358 9 1734 3472
khi.tilastokeskus@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mr Kari Molnar

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Appendix tables

• Cost-of-living Index 1951:10=100 (14.10.2008)

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Last updated 14.10.2008