Home > Statistics > Consumer price index > 2009 > March > (Correction 3 November 2009) Inflation slowed down to 0.9 per cent in March

Published: 14 April 2009

(Correction 3 November 2009) Inflation slowed down to 0.9 per cent in March

Correction. Release corrected on 3 November 2009. The point figure of the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices has been corrected. Was previously 108.6. The mistake was due to erroneous rounding of the point figure. The correction is shown in red font.

The year-on-year change in consumer prices, i.e. inflation, calculated by Statistics Finland slowed further down, for in March it stood at 0.9 per cent. In February it was 1.7 per cent. Inflation slowed down above all by fallen interest rates and by a slight decrease in food price increases.

Although the increase in food prices moderated somewhat from the year before, most of the inflation in March was still caused by risen cost of food. Inflation was also pushed up by rent increases, risen retail prices of alcoholic beverages, and increases in the prices of tobacco, restaurant and cafe services, and health care services. The rise of consumer prices was curbed most in March by reductions in the prices of liquid fuels and by fallen interest rates. Year-on-year falls in the prices of used passenger cars, owner-occupied dwellings and real estate also held back inflation.

From February to March, 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, March 2009

	Point figure	Year-on-year change	Month-on-month change
Consumer Price Index 2005=100	108.6	0.9%	0.1%
Cost-of-living Index 1951:10=100	1 734
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices 2005=100	108. 5	2.0%	0.4%

According to preliminary data, inflation in the EMU countries was 0.6 per cent in March

According to the preliminary data on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, the rate of inflation in the EMU countries was 0.6 per cent in March. In February it was 1.2 per cent. The corresponding figure for Finland in March was 2.0 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 March on 16 April.

Source: Consumer Price Index 2009, March. 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, March (pdf 259.5 kB)

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• Cost-of-living Index 1951:10=100 (14.4.2009)

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Last updated 3.11.2009