Home > Statistics > Consumer price index > 2010 > August > Inflation 1.2 per cent in August

Published: 14 September 2010

Inflation 1.2 per cent in August

The year-on-year change in consumer prices, i.e. inflation, calculated by Statistics Finland was 1.2 per cent in August. In July it was 1.1 per cent.

Inflation indicators in Finland, August 2010

	Point figure	Change on one year	Change on one month
Consumer Price Index 2005=100	109,6	1,2 %	0,4 %
Cost-of-living Index 1951:10=100	1 749
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices 2005=100	110,3	1,3 %	0,4 %
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices at Constant Taxes 2005=100	110,0	1,5 %	0,4 %

In August, consumer prices were brought up most from the year before by increases in the prices of owner-occupied dwellings and real estate and liquid fuels. The rise in prices was also due to higher retail prices of alcoholic beverages and electricity and rent increases from last year's August. Inflation was curbed most by fallen food prices and interest rates.

From July to August, consumer prices rose by 0.4 per cent. This was mainly due to gradual ending of clothing sales, and risen prices of detached houses and telephone call charges.

Each mid-month, Statistics Finland interviewers collect altogether 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.

According to preliminary data, inflation in the EMU countries was 1.6 per cent in August

According to the preliminary data on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, the rate of inflation in the EMU countries was 1.6 per cent in August. In July it was 1.7 per cent. The corresponding figure for Finland was 1.3 per cent in August.

The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices does not include owner-occupancy, games of chance, interests on consumption and other credits or levies such as asset transfer tax 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 August on 15 September.

The year-on-year change in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices at Constant Taxes was 1.5 per cent in August

The year-on-year change in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices stood thus at 1.3 per cent in August and that in the Index at Constant Taxes measuring market inflation at 1.5 per cent. Over twelve months, the combined lowering impact of changes in commodity tax rates was 0.2 percentage points. The month-on-month change in both the Harmonised Index and the Index of Consumer Prices at Constant Taxes was 0.4 per cent in August. In August, no changes were made in tax rates.

In the Index at Constant Taxes the impact of the changes in the value added tax and other commodity taxes on inflation has been eliminated by keeping the taxes constant relative to the index base period. The Index measures market inflation or the change in prices caused by reasons other than changes in commodity taxes. The price impact of the tax changes is obtained by comparing the development of the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices and the Index at Constant Taxes.

Source: Consumer Price Index, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Juhani Pekkarinen (09) 1734 3476, Kati Heikkinen (09) 1734 3468, khi@stat.fi

Director in charge: Kari Molnar

Consumer price index 2010, August (pdf 243.4 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 (14.9.2010)
• Year-on-year changes in the Consumer Price Index (14.9.2010)

---

Updated 14.9.2010