Home > Statistics > Consumer price index > 2009 > April > Inflation 0.8 per cent in April

Published: 14 May 2009

Inflation 0.8 per cent in April

The year-on-year change in consumer prices, i.e. inflation, calculated by Statistics Finland was 0.8 per cent in April. In March it stood at 0.9 per cent.

Although the rising of food prices has now halted, most of the inflation in April was still caused by increased 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 services. The rising of consumer prices was curbed most in April by fallen interest rates and reductions in the prices of liquid fuels. Year-on-year falls in the prices of owner-occupied dwellings and real estate, used passenger cars, and telephone call charges also held back inflation.

From March to April, consumer prices remained unchanged on average.

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, April 2009

	Point figure	Year-on-year change	Month-on-month change
Consumer Price Index 2005=100	108.6	0.8%	0.0%
Cost-of-living Index 1951:10=100	1 734
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices 2005=100	108.8	2.1%	0.2%

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

According to the preliminary data on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, the rate of inflation in the EMU countries was the same in April as in March, i.e. 0.6 per cent. The corresponding figure for Finland in April was 2.1 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 April on 15 May.

Source: Consumer Price Index 2009, April. 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, April (pdf 221.2 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 (14.5.2009)

---

Last updated 14.5.2009