After the conclusion of this year's Ice Hockey World Championships in Switzerland, Latvia has moved up to 10th place in International Ice Hockey Federation rankings. Latvia currently has 2,610 ranking points. Slovakia is currently ranked 9th with 2,635 ranking points, while Belarus is ranked eighth with 2,660 ranking points. After winning this year's Ice Hockey World Championships, Russia is in first place in the IIHF's ranking with 3,200 points, followed by Canada in second place. This year's 7th place finish was equal to Latvia's two best finishes at previous World Championships 's in 1997 in Finland, and in 2004 in the Czech Republic.
Latvia's First Party/Latvia's Way candidate for the Riga mayoral office Ainars Slesers has said he has no real competition. Slesers told LETA news agency that recent accusations of misconduct result from his opponents' fears and inability to offer any valid strategy to overcome the current crisis. Riga citizens want to hear concrete plans on how to solve the crisis fast, said Slesers. So far none of the candidates for Riga mayor has come up with any specific proposals. They do not have anything to offer, and that is why they attack the strongest one, he said. The local government elections are scheduled for June 6, coinciding with the European Parliament elections in Latvia.
The consumer price index in Latvia increased 6.2 percent as of April 2009, the Central Statistical Bureau informs. Prices for goods increased 4.8 percent and prices for services grew 9.8 percent. Annual inflation in March totaled 8.2 percent. Compared to March, the average consumer price level in Latvia decreased by 0.4 percent, including 0.3 percent decrease in prices for goods and 0.7 percent decrease in prices for services. The rise in the prices of pharmaceutical goods, tobacco products, footwear and fuel, as well as price decrease of food products, had the greatest impact on consumer price changes in April. Prices of pharmaceutical goods increased by 5.3 percent on average. As part of an advertising campaign, the price of alcoholic beverages was reduced by 0.6 percent, as was the price for fruit, eggs, milk and dairy products, bread, beverages and meat products. The annual average rate of change in April 2009 was 12.5 percent.
