Home > Statistics > Consumer price index > 2008 > March > Inflation accelerated to 3.9 per cent in March

Published: 14 April 2008

Inflation accelerated to 3.9 per cent in March

The year-on-year change in consumer prices, i.e. inflation, calculated by Statistics Finland was 3.9 per cent in March. Inflation was accelerated from February's 3.7 per cent mostly by higher prices of vegetables and clothing.

Inflation was pushed up most in the year by risen prices of housing. The rise was due to higher prices of energy, risen housing loan interest rates and real estate prices as well as rent increases. Inflation was also pushed up by increases in the prices of food, automotive fuels, restaurant and café services and retail prices of alcoholic beverages from the year before. The rise in consumer prices was curbed most in March by fallen prices of passenger cars, entertainment electronics and computers.

From February to March, consumer prices went up by 0.9 per cent, mainly because the clothing sales ended.

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 2008

	Point figure	Year-on-year change	Month-on-month change
Consumer Price Index 2005=100	107.6	3.9 %	0.9 %
Cost-of-living Index 1951:10=100	1 719
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices 2005=100	106.4	3.6 %	1.0 %

According to preliminary data, inflation in the EMU countries was 3.5 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 3.5 per cent in March. In February it was 3.3 per cent. The corresponding figure for Finland was 3.6 per cent in March.

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 2008, March. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Mr Juhani Pekkarinen +358 9 1734 3476, Ms Kati Heikkinen +358 9 1734 3472,
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices: Ms Christina Telasuo +358 9 1734 2951
khi.tilastokeskus@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mr Kari Molnar

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 (14.4.2008)

---

Last updated 14.4.2008