Finland: Inflation ebbs in October from the prior month
Latest reading: Harmonized consumer prices increased 1.4% on a year-on-year basis in October, following a 2.2% increase in the previous month.
Relative to the previous month’s figures, there were milder price pressures for food and non-alcoholic beverages (+1.6% on a year-on-year basis vs +2.5% in September), transportation (-0.5% vs -0.2% in September), housing and utilities (+0.2% vs +3.0% in September) and recreation (+2.6% vs +3.0% in September). In contrast, price pressures were higher for restaurants and hotels in October (+1.5% vs +1.4% in September).
Meanwhile, consumer prices declined 0.2% in annual terms in October, following a 0.5% rise in the prior month. The key difference between the harmonized and national consumer price indices is that the national index accounts for both owner-occupied and rented housing, while the harmonized index includes only rented housing.
Lastly, harmonized consumer prices were down 0.09% in October in month-on-month terms, following a 0.46% rise in the prior month.