In April this year, consumer prices in Latvia increased by 1.1% compared to March, and by 3.9% compared to April 2024, according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau. A month earlier, the annual inflation rate was 3.3%.
The average consumer price level over the past 12 months, compared to the previous 12 months, rose by 2.2% in April.
Compared to March, the most significant contributors to the price level change in April 2025 were clothing and footwear (+0.5 percentage points), food and non-alcoholic beverages (+0.3 pp), transport-related goods and services (+0.2 pp), various goods and services (+0.1 pp), as well as housing-related goods and services (-0.1 pp) and recreation and culture-related items (-0.1 pp).
The prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 1.2% over the month.
The main drivers were the end of discounts on coffee (+6.3%), poultry (+6.3%), eggs (+9.5%), fresh fruit (+2.8%), confectionery (+1.6%), and chocolate (+2.1%). Prices also increased for milk (+3.4%), potatoes (+5.2%), meat products (+2.4%), cheese and cottage cheese (+0.9%), fruit and vegetable juices (+2.5%), and vegetable oil (+3.2%).
Meanwhile, prices fell for fresh vegetables (-2.3%), flour and cereals (-2.9%), dried, salted, or smoked meat (-0.7%), and dairy products (-1.2%). Olive oil became cheaper as well (-3.6%).
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco prices rose by 0.5% during the month. Tobacco products increased by 1.1% and alcoholic drinks by 0.2%, mainly due to higher prices of strong alcohol.
Prices for clothing and footwear surged by 9.2%, with spring-summer season items arriving in stores – clothing prices rose by 6.4% and footwear by 22%.
Housing-related goods and services saw a 0.4% decrease in average prices. The most notable drops were for electricity (-1%) and heating (-0.7%). Maintenance and repair materials became cheaper (-1.5%) due to discounts, while prices rose for water supply (+1%) and sewerage services (+1%).
Transport-related goods and services became 1.6% more expensive, driven mainly by higher air travel prices. Fuel prices increased by 0.5%, including gasoline (+1.4%) and LPG (+0.2%), while diesel prices remained unchanged. Train and bus fares also went up.
Recreation and culture-related items became 0.8% cheaper, including flowers, package holidays, and personal computers.
Restaurant and hotel services saw a 1% increase. Hotel services rose by 3.8%, restaurant and café prices by 0.5%, and canteen services by 1.2%.
Various goods and services increased by 1.8%, mainly due to the end of promotions on personal hygiene and beauty products.
In other consumer groups, the most notable monthly increase was for specialist medical services, while prices fell for pharmaceutical products and household cleaning supplies.
The largest contributors to the annual inflation rate in April 2025 were food and non-alcoholic beverages (+1.9 pp), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (+0.6 pp), recreation and culture (+0.3 pp), various goods and services (+0.2 pp), healthcare (+0.2 pp), housing (+0.2 pp), and transport (-0.2 pp).
Prices in the food and non-alcoholic beverages group rose by 7.3% year-on-year.
The biggest increases were for coffee (+26.2%) and chocolate (+35.1%). Poultry (+15.2%), butter (+31.1%), fresh fruit (+9.9%), cheese and cottage cheese (+7.6%), eggs (+17.4%), dairy products (+7.7%), fresh vegetables (+4.7%), and confectionery (+5.1%) also became more expensive. Prices also rose for bread (+2.6%), vegetable oil (+16.8%), milk (+5.5%), dried/salted/smoked meat (+1.9%), processed fish and seafood (+9.9%), yogurt (+6%), and ice cream (+6.8%).
However, prices fell for sugar (-20.7%), pork (-1.9%), flour and cereals (-4.2%), and fresh or chilled fish (-8.4%).
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products rose by 8% year-on-year, with tobacco increasing by 14.4% and alcohol by 4.7%.
Housing-related goods and services increased by 1.2%. The largest rises were in electricity (+10%), waste collection (+10.4%), property management (+7.6%), maintenance and repair services (+9%), water supply (+5.9%), rent (+4.6%), bottled gas (+12.5%), and sewerage services (+5.1%). Prices decreased for heating (-9%), natural gas (-9.2%), and solid fuel (-2.1%).
Healthcare prices rose by 3.7%, driven by higher costs for specialist consultations, dentistry, and diagnostic services.
Transport prices fell by 1.3% year-on-year, due to a 6.4% drop in fuel prices – diesel (-8.6%), gasoline (-8.3%). However, LPG prices rose by 28.5%. Used car prices also declined, while air travel and car maintenance services became more expensive.
Recreation and culture prices increased by 5.3%, with higher prices for TV subscriptions, leisure and sports services, newspapers and magazines, package holidays, and flowers. Personal computers became cheaper.
Prices in the miscellaneous goods and services group rose by 5.4%, with the largest increases for personal care items, nursing home fees, beauty services, and fees for issuing identity documents. Vehicle insurance became cheaper.
Other notable annual price increases were observed in catering services, telecommunications, clothing, household cleaning products, and preschool education.