Home > Statistics > Consumer price index > 2009 > February > Inflation slowed down to 1.7 per cent in February

Published: 13 March 2009

Inflation slowed down to 1.7 per cent in February

The year-on-year change in consumer prices, i.e. inflation, calculated by Statistics Finland slowed down to 1.7 per cent in February. In January it was 2.2 per cent. Inflation slowed down mainly because of fallen interest rates, and prices of owner-occupied dwellings and real estate.

Nearly two-thirds of the inflation in February was caused by increases in food prices. The cost of food went up primarily due to risen prices of dairy products, vegetables and meat. Inflation was also pushed up by increases in the retail prices of alcoholic beverages, risen prices of tobacco, as well as increases in rents, prices of restaurant and cafe services, and health care charges. The rising of consumer prices was curbed most in February by fallen prices of liquid fuels and interest rates. Year-on-year decreases in the prices of used passenger cars, owner-occupied dwellings and real estate, and in telephone call charges also held back inflation.

From January to February, consumer prices went up by 0.1 per cent.

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, February 2009

	Point figure	Year-on-year change	Month-on-month change
Consumer Price Index 2005=100	108.6	1.7%	0.1%
Cost-of-living Index 1951:10=100	1 733
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices 2005=100	108.1	2.7%	0.7%

According to preliminary data, inflation in the EMU countries was 1.2 per cent in February

According to the preliminary data on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, the rate of inflation in the EMU countries was 1.2 per cent in February. In January it was 1.1 per cent. The corresponding figure for Finland in February was 2.7 per cent.

The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices does not include owner-occupancy, games of chance, interests on consumption and other credits or asset transfer and vehicle tax. The consumption items included in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices as well as 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 February on 16 March.

Source: Consumer Price Index 2009, February. Statistics Finland

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

Director in charge: Mr Kari Molnar

Consumer price index 2009, February (pdf 224.2 kB)

Tables

Tables in databases

Pick the data you need into tables, view the data as graphs, or download the data for your use.

• Database tables and their variables
• Archived tables

Appendix tables

• Cost-of-living Index 1951:10=100 (13.3.2009)

---

Last updated 13.3.2009