Consumer price index, 15 June 2006

CPI was 117.7 (1998=100) in June 2006, compared to 115.3 at the same time last year. This is equivalent to an increase of 2.1 per cent. The year-to-year growth in CPI fell by 0.2 percentage points from May to June. The year-to-year growth in the CPI-ATE was 0.8 per cent in June, up from 0.7 per cent in May.

Electricity prices pulled CPI down from May to June

The CPI decreased by 0.2 per cent from May to June. The most important impulse to price decrease came from electricity, with a price fall of 4.8 per cent.

Prices of clothing and footwear fell by 2.0 per cent, due to summer sale. Prices of clothing fell more than prices of footwear.

In the opposite direction, non-alcoholic beverages contributed with a price increase of 3.5 per cent. Actual and imputed rentals for housing rose in June, the increase was also affected by an increase in of rentals of holiday houses.

CPI increased by 2.1 per cent from June 2005 to June 2006. The greatest contribution came from energy products, where electricity tariffs increased by 16.9 per cent and petrol prices rose by 10.8 per cent.

With price increases of 2.5 and 2.4 per cent respectively, actual and imputed rentals for housing also had an upward effect on the CPI growth in the last 12 months. Health services went up by 8.4 per cent from June 2005 to June 2006. Prices of accommodation services as well as services connected to recreation and culture contributed in the same direction.

In the opposite direction, audiovisual equipments contributed to dampen the CPI growth with a price fall of 7.6 per cent from June 2005 to June 2006. Kindergarten fees also pulled the general price growth down together with a fall in prices of clothing and footwear.

Decrease in the year-to-year growth

The year-to-year growth decreased from 2.3 per cent in May to 2.1 per cent in June. The decrease is mainly due to the development of electricity tariffs which decreased in June this year compared to an increase in June last year. Prices of food and clothing and footwear also contributed to the decrease in the year-to-year change.

The year-to-year growth in CPI-ATE was 0.8 per cent in June 2006, an increase of 0.1 percentage points from May. The year-to-year growth in the CPI adjusted for tax changes (CPI-AT) went from 2.1 per cent in May to 1.9 per cent in June.