Why is this important
Data on price increases reveal the fragility of families’ budgets: basic food, fuel, and services are increasing most quickly. This mirrors the pattern of inflationary pressure in the economy.
What happened
Food:
- watermelon +28.7% (annually +9.9%),
- melons +11.7%,
- cabbage +11.4% (+46.5%),
- potatoes +3.5% (+32%),
- bananas +2.8%;
- meat: chicken thighs +2.1%, lamb +1.4% (+28.5%), beef +0.2-0.7% (up to +25.7% per year);
- cottonseed oil +1.6% (+39.4%);
- noticeable decrease in prices: tomatoes -16.8%, grapes -5.4%, eggplants -4.3%, onions -2.3% (but annual growth of +40%).
Fuel:
- gasoline +3.1% per month (+11.1% per year);
- AI-80 prices rose the most (+4.6%);
- average prices: AI-80 — 8746 sum/l, AI-92 — 11 126 sum/l, AI-95 — 12 983 sum/l.
Services:
- museums +10.6%, veterinary services +9.9%, legal services +9.9% (growth is associated with an increase in BCA);
- Housing and Communal Services +3%, driving schools +1.6% (+71.3% per year), parking +0.7%.
What they say
The National Statistics Committee notes that the sale of beef at reduced prices (65-75 thousand soums per kg) in the markets has contained the overall rise in meat prices.
Context
Inflation remains within government forecasts (compared to 8-9% at the end of the year). The main pressure is being exerted by food and services, while the strengthening of the soum helped reduce railway and air ticket prices.
