This page is archived.

Data published after 5 April 2022 can be found on the renewed website.

Go to the new statistics page

Go straight to the point figure table of the Cost-of-living Index

Published: 14 April 2015

Inflation remained at -0.1 per cent in March

The year-on-year change in consumer prices calculated by Statistics Finland remained at -0.1 per cent in March. In February, inflation stood at -0.1 per cent. Inflation remained negative particularly as a result of lower prices of liquid fuels and owner-occupied dwellings compared to March 2014.

Inflation indicators in Finland, March 2015

  Point figure      Year-on-year change Change on one month
Consumer Price Index 2010=100 108,9 -0,1% 0,3 %
Cost-of-living Index 1951:10=100 1 908    
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices 2005=100 121,9 0,0 % 0,4 %
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices at Constant Taxes 2005=100 118,4 -0,2 % 0,4 %

In March, consumer prices were pushed up most by increases in rents, retail prices of tobacco products, and price increases in maintenance services of blocks of flats. The rising of consumer prices was curbed in March most by reductions in the prices of liquid fuels, owner-occupied housing and dairy products from the year before. In March, the biggest increases and reductions were directed at the same commodities as in February. From February to March, consumer prices rose by 0.3 per cent, which was primarily caused by higher prices of vegetables and fruits, as well as petrol.

Each mid-month, Statistics Finland's interviewers collect altogether around 50,000 prices on nearly 500 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. The Consumer Price Index 2010=100 Handbook for Users is available on the CPI-home page (www.stat.fi).

According to preliminary data, inflation in the euro area was -0.1 per cent in March

According to the preliminary data on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, the rate of inflation in the euro area was -0.1 per cent in March. In February, it was -0.3 per cent. The corresponding figure for Finland in March was 0.0 per cent.

The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices does not include owner-occupancy, games of chance, interests on consumption and other credits, fire insurance on owner-occupied dwellings or the 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 euro area is based on preliminary data from the 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. Information of inflation in EU countries is available on Eurostat homepage, eurostat (http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat).

The year-on-year change in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices at Constant Taxes was -0.2 per cent in March

The year-on-year change in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices stood at 0.0 per cent in March and that in the Index at Constant Taxes measuring market inflation at -0.2 per cent. Over twelve months, the combined raising impact on consumer prices from changes in commodity tax rates was thus 0.2 percentage points. The month-on-month change in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices was 0.4 per cent and that in the Index at Constant Taxes 0.4 per cent in March.

Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices at Constant Taxes

The inflation measured by Consumer Price Index consists mainly of products and services priced by enterprises and the public sector, and value added and commodity taxes. Some 25 per cent of the private consumption described by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) consists of value added or other taxes. The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices at Constant Taxes (HICP-CT) is based on the HICP so the two indices have the same weight structure and price data. HICP-CT is calculated with a method which holds the tax rate constant relative to the reference period. When tax changes take place, the impact of the tax change on commodity prices is eliminated from HICP-CT. The price impact of the tax changes is obtained by comparing the development of the HICP and HICP-CT.


Source: Consumer Price Index, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Ilkka Lehtinen 029 551 3478, Kristiina Nieminen 029 551 2957, khi@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mari Ylä-Jarkko

Publication in pdf-format (368.6 kB)

Tables

Tables in databases

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

Appendix tables

Figures

Updated 14.4.2015

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Consumer price index [e-publication].
ISSN=1799-0254. March 2015. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 28.3.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/khi/2015//03/khi_2015_03_2015-04-14_tie_001_en.html