Inflation slowed down to 0.2 per cent in January

According to Statistics Finland, the year-on-year change in consumer prices, i.e. inflation, slowed down to 0.2 per cent in January. In December, it stood at 0.4 per cent.

Consumer prices were put up most in the year by higher prices on liquid fuels from last year's January. Rent increases, risen charges for cultural and leisure services and higher prices of dwellings also had an impact on inflation. The rise in consumer prices was still curbed most by lower prices of alcoholic beverages. Lower telephone charges, reduced prices of used cars and cuts in interest rates also diminished inflation.

From December to January, consumer prices fell by 0.5 per cent. The fall was mainly due to seasonal sales of clothes. The price of petrol also fell from December.

Each mid-month, Statistics Finland interviewers collect around 50,000 prices on 492 commodities from approximately 3,000 outlets for the Consumer Price Index. In addition, some 1,000 items of price data are gathered by centralised collection.

Year-on-year change in consumer prices 1/2001 - 1/2005

Index point figures are available here (only in Finnish): Consumer Price Index 2000=100

Source: Consumer Price Index 2005, January. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Mr Timo Koskimäki +358 9 1734 3479, Mr Juhani Pekkarinen +358 9 1734 3476, Ms Mari Ylä-Jarkko + 9 1734 3310, khi.tilastokeskus@stat.fi