Analytics, Lithuania

The diagram presents monthly price changes of consumer goods and services as compared with the previous month.

In April 2008, the most decisive impact on the total change in consumer prices was made by a 1.5% increase in prices of food products and non-alcoholic beverages, 1.8% – for the transport group of goods and services, 2.6% – alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, 2.3% – clothing and footwear, as well as by a 2.3% price drop for the communication group of goods and services. 

Prices of consumer goods in April 2008 as compared with March rose by 1.3, those of services – by 1.1%

The largest influence on the change in prices of food products and non-alcoholic beverages was made by a 7.1% price rise for vegetables and potatoes, 2.3% – bread and cereal products, 0.8% – meat and meat products, 5.6% – coffee, tea, cocoa, 2.3% – fruits and berries, as well as by a 1.2% price drop for milk and milk products, cheese, eggs. 

Changes in prices for the group of transport goods and services were mainly influenced by a 2.5% price rise for petrol, 4.2% – local passenger road transport services, 2.3% – diesel fuel, 8.7% – passenger air transport services, 1.5% – personal transport equipment technical maintenance and repair services, 5.2% – services of driver’s schools. 

The price rise for alcoholic beverages and tobacco products was conditioned by a 7.7% price rise for cigarettes, 0.5% – spirits, 1.0% – wine and wine products.  

In the clothing and footwear group of products, due to the appearance of new summer collections, a 4.0% price rise was recorded for footwear, and 1.5% – for clothing. Cleaning, repair and hire of clothing went up in price by 3.4, footwear repair services – by 2.0%. 

In the communication group of goods and services, the change in prices was determined by a 3.5% price drop for mobile phone communication services, and 1.9% – for telephone equipment. 

Regarding other goods and services, which determined the general change in consumer prices in April 2008, the following could be mentioned: a 2.1% price rise for catering services, 1.2% – pharmaceuticals, 4.4% – cleaning and maintenance products, 3.1% – housing rentals, 2.5% – solid fuel, as well as by a 1.5% price drop for materials for the maintenance and repair of the dwelling, 1.0% – personal hygiene products, 0.9% – video equipment, 0.6% – data processing equipment. 

In April 2008, annual inflation (April 2008 against April 2007) made up 11.7%. The annual inflation rate was mostly influenced by a 17.5% price rise for food products and non-alcoholic beverages, 18.3% – housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 13.9% – transport group of goods and services, as well as by a 3.1% price drop for clothing and footwear. 

Consumer goods showed an annual increase of 11.4, while services – of 12.7%. 

Price changes of key consumer goods and services groups in April 2008, %

Inflation – the decrease in the purchasing power of a currency unit, which manifests itself with a long-term increase in the average general price level. 

Deflation – the increase in the value of a currency unit, which manifests itself with a decrease in the average general price level.  

Annual inflation shows relative changes of the average price rate between the current month and the corresponding month of the previous year. 

Average annual inflation shows relative changes of the average price rate between the average of the latest twelve months and the average of the corresponding previous twelve months.