House Prices Ease; Fuel Costs Boost Inflation

In the July-to-September period, house prices came down by 2.8 percent on average compared with the second quarter of this year.

However the average cost of single homes remains four percent higher than last year overall. In the Helsinki region, prices in the third quarter were 6.4 percent higher than a year earlier. Elsewhere they rose by 3.7 percent in a year.

The cost of vacant lots for detached houses climbed more sharply, up 8.3 percent in a year. However they were 2.3 percent lower than in the spring quarter.

Electronics and Used Cars a Bit Cheaper Meanwhile the inflation rate in November was 2.9 percent, up from 2.7 percent a month earlier. Fuel costs were main factor pushing prices up. Also becoming more expensive were interest rates, phone calls, food, real estate and rents. However there was some price relief for consumers buying second-hand cars and home electronics. YLE