Summary
- In April 2018, telecommunications prices1 increased by 0.11% over the previous month (they did not change in April 2017). This increase results from changes in the tariffs of mobile Internet (PC/tablet) by one provider.
On a year-on-year basis, the variation in prices was +0.34%.
On average annual terms, prices increased by 1.70%, 0.63 p.p. above inflation (1.07%). The price increase verified was the 18th highest among the 43 products/services considered.
Since January 2014, telecommunications prices1 have been increasing at average annual rates above the rate of change reported in the CPI.
- In April 2018, in average annual terms, Portugal was the third country in the EU with the highest price increase. On average, telecommunications prices1 in the EU fell by 0.7%.
Since April 2011, telecommunication prices1 have grown more in Portugal than in the EU.
1. Changes in telecommunications prices1 in April 2018
According to INE2, in April 2018 prices increased by 0.11% in relation to the previous month (they did not change in April 2017)1. This increase results from changes in the tariffs of mobile Internet (PC/tablet) by one provider.
Compared with the corresponding month of the previous year, and the average in the last 12 months, telecommunications prices1 increased by 0.34% and by 1.70%, respectively.
|
|
April 2018 |
2017 |
||
|
Variation Year-on-year |
Variation average 12 months |
Variation previous month |
Variation average 12 months |
|
|
CPI |
0.40% |
1.07% |
1.66% |
1.37% |
|
Telecommunications1 |
0.34% |
1.70% |
0.11% |
2.35% |
|
Ranking in descending order (43 groups) |
24 |
18 |
21 |
10 |
Unit: %
Source: INE
Note: The deviation between the year-on-year change in the CPI and the telecommunications sub-index resulting from the table is different from that mentioned in the text due to rounding.
On a year-on-year basis, the variation in prices (+0.34%) was the 24th highest among the sectors of the Portuguese economy. The difference between the CPI was -0.05 p.p.
In average annual terms, the observed price increase (1.70%) was the 18th highest among the 43 products/services considered.
Since January 2014, telecommunications prices1 have been increasing at average annual rates above the rate of change reported in the CPI. In April 2018, the differential between the two rates reached 0.63 percentage points (p.p.), the lowest deviation since March 2014.
Graph 1 - Average twelve-month change in CPI and telecommunications prices1
Unit: %
Source: INE
Graph 2 - Average in CPI and in Portugal telecommunications prices (2010M12 = Base 100)
Unit: Index (2010M12 = Base 100)
Source: ANACOM, based on data from INE.
2. Trends in telecommunication prices1 in the E.U.3 in April 2018
According to EUROSTAT4, in April 2018, the price increase in Portugal was 2.4 p.p. higher than the E.U.3 average in annual average terms, Portugal being the country with the third highest price increase. The countries with larger increases than Portugal were Latvia and Spain.
Compared to the same month, the increase in telecommunications prices1 in Portugal was the 8th highest among E.U. countries3.
|
|
April 2018 |
2017 |
||
|
Variation Year-on-year |
Variation average 12 months |
Variation previous month |
Variation average 12 months |
|
|
EU3 |
-0.1% |
-0.7% |
0.1% |
-0.9% |
|
Portugal |
0.4% |
1.7% |
0.1% |
2.4% |
|
Deviations PT / E.U.3 |
0.4 p.p. |
2.4 p.p. |
0.00 p.p. |
3.2 p.p. |
|
Ranking in descending order (26 countries) |
8 |
3 |
7 |
2 |
Unit: %, pp
Source: EUROSTAT
Note: Information not available for the United Kingdom. Ireland was also not included in the ranking due to a lack of available information before December 2016.
Since April 2011, telecommunications prices1 have risen more in Portugal than in the EU4 (in average annual terms).
Graph 3 - Average rate of change over previous 12 months - telecommunications prices: Portugal vs E.U.3
Unit: %
Source: EUROSTAT
Note: From the publication, by EUROSTAT, on 25 February 2016, of data for January 2016, the reference year of the HICP series was changed from 2005 to 2015. There may be differences in the series due to rounding effects5.
Graph 4 - Trends in telecommunication prices in Portugal and E.U.3 (2010M12 = Base 100)
Unit: Index (2010M12 = Base 100)
Source: ANACOM, based on data from INE.
1 ''Telephone, and telefax services'' sub-index of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and of the Harmonized Indices of Consumer Prices (HICP), which comprises voice, Internet and subscription TV (STV) services acquired on a stand-alone basis or as part of a service bundle. Analysis of the prices presented in this report should be complemented by an examination of the characteristics of the offers; this information is available in the reports: "Electronic communications services bundles", ''Fixed telephone service and nomadic VoIP'', ''Mobile services'', ''Internet access service'' and ''Subscription television service'', all available on ANACOM's website.
2 See “Consumer Price Index - April 2018” (INE, 2018), available at CPI annual rate of change decreased to 0.4% - April 2018https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_destaques&DESTAQUESdest_boui=315399833&DESTAQUESmodo=2
3 Information not available for the United Kingdom. Information available for Ireland as of December 2016.
4 See HICP- monthly data (EUROSTAT, 2018), available at HICP (2015 = 100) - monthly data (index)
5 For further information, please go to New HICP reference year 2015 = 100
