Consumer prices increased by 20.0%, over the year, and 1.9%, over the month, in Estonia. Prices were lifted by more expensive energy and food.
Energy accounted for two-thirds of the increase in the cost of the average consumption basket. Electricity was 146%, gas 217%, and heat energy 61% more expensive than a year ago.
Food prices have risen by 17 percent in a year. The prices of items such as vegetables, fish and dairy products have risen markedly.
Rapid inflation rates will continue in the coming months. The rise in prices is expected to slow down in the second half of the year. This is mainly due to technical reasons as energy prices started to grow more rapidly last autumn.
Despite the sharp rise in prices, consumption has remained resilient so far. Price-adjusted retail sales increased by a tenth in the first four months of the year.
