Prices for consumer goods and services in June grew by 0.6 per cent

In June 2008, the most decisive impact on the total change in consumer prices was made by a 0.8 per cent increase in prices for food products and non-alcoholic beverages, 1.7 per cent –transport group of goods and services, 1.1 per cent – health care group of goods and services, as well as by a 0.8 per cent price drop for clothing and footwear. The impact on the general consumer price change depends not only on the price change for a product, service, or a group thereof, but also on the specific weight of this expenditure in the total consumption expenditure.

Prices for consumer goods and services in June 2008 as compared with May rose by 0.6 and 0.7 per cent respectively.

Changes in prices for food products and non-alcoholic beverages were mainly influenced by a 3.2 per cent price rise for meat and meat products, 0.9 per cent – bread and cereal products, 1.4 per cent – mineral water, soft drinks and juice, 1.2 per cent – butter, oil and fats, as well as by a 4.8 per cent price drop for milk and milk products, cheese, eggs, 1.2 per cent – sugar. Among vegetables, the most noticeable price drop – by 20.4 per cent – was recorded for fruit vegetables (cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet paprika), 3.1 per cent – cabbage, green vegetable and parsley; a 41.3 per cent price growth was recorded for root vegetables (carrots, beetroot), 10.5 per cent – bulbous vegetables.

Changes in prices for the group of transport goods and services were mainly influenced by a 3.7 per cent price rise for petrol, 4.2 per cent – diesel fuel, 1.5 per cent – personal transport equipment technical maintenance and repair services; a 3.5 per cent price drop was recorded for passenger road transport services.

Changes in prices for the group of health care goods and services were influenced by an 11.0 per cent price rise for sanatorium services, 0.5 per cent – pharmaceuticals, 1.6 per cent – odontologists’ services, 1.4 per cent – medical consultations.

Changes in prices for the clothing and footwear group of products were influenced by the price drop, due to seasonal discounts, for clothing and footwear – by 0.7 and 1.2 per cent respectively. Footwear repair services went up in price by 1.2 per cent.

Regarding other goods and services, which determined the general change in consumer prices in June 2008, the following could be mentioned: a 3.6 per cent price rise for package holidays, 0.6 per cent – public catering services, 1.0 per cent – furniture, 0.9 per cent – mobile phone communication services, 1.0 – non-electric appliances, articles and products for personal care, 1.4 per cent – non-durable household goods, 1.2 per cent – hot water, as well as by a 1.4 per cent price drop for data processing equipment, 1.7 per cent – table wine, 1.8 per cent – recreational services.

In June 2008, annual inflation (June 2008 against June 2007) made up 12.5 per cent. The annual inflation rate was mostly influenced by a 18.9 per cent price rise for food products and non-alcoholic beverages, 17.9 per cent – housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 17.3 per cent – transport group of goods and services, as well as by a 2.9 per cent price drop for clothing and footwear.

Consumer goods showed an annual increase of 12.5, while services – of 12.5 per cent.

In June 2008, average annual inflation made up 9.1 per cent.

Source: Statistics Lithuania

Price changes of key consumer goods and services groups in June
Per cent

Commodity and service groups	Specific weight in total consumption expenditure	Growth, drop (-)
		June 2008 against				average annual
		May 2008	2007			2007–2008 06 2006–2007 06
			December		June
Total CPI	100.0	0.6	6.6	12.5		9.1
Food products and non-alcoholic beverages	25.7	0.8	8.4	18.9		15.5
Alcoholic drinks and tobacco products	6.6	0.3	13.7	17.5		10.9
Clothing and footwear	8.2	-0.8	-4.9	-2.9		-4.5
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels	12.4	0.4	7.8	17.9		15.1
Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance	6.4	0.6	3.5	5.3		3.4
Health care	5.3	1.1	7.5	11.7		9.3
Transport	11.5	1.7	11.9	17.3		10.7
Communications	4.1	0.4	0.2	-1.7		-5.9
Recreation and culture	7.6	0.3	1.8	1.7		0.5
Education	1.5	0.0	2.0	8.8		8.0
Hotels, cafes and restaurants	5.7	0.7	9.9	15.9		13.1
Miscellaneous goods and services	5.0	0.7	4.8	9.1		8.1