Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend I.Khalilova / To confirm the correctness of the calculation of the consumer price index in Azerbaijan, the State Statistics Committee appealed to the International Montary Fund (IMF) for technical assistance. Arif VEliyev, the chairman of the State Statistics Committee, said that Committee carried out calculation of inflation on the basis of general calculation of people and structure of consumption of goods and services, which corresponds the IMF methodology. Moreover, every quarter the IMF experts pay visits to the country to view the work of the national accounts and inflation calculating methods.
However, different experts continue insisting on inaccuracy of calculations carried out by the State Committee, though the independent exerts in their methods take into consideration the goods turnover. Aliyev said that presently 50% of the goods turnover falls on Baku, where over 40% of fairs and markets are concentrated. Respectively, there is a flow to the capital city not only from the regions, but also nearby countries such as Russia (Dagestan) and Georgia, whilst the trade operations with them should be торговые операции excluded during the calculation of inflation with the consideration of goods turnover. On the other hand, the enterprises and organizations are placed in Baku and they acquire food and necessary equipment in the capital. With the consideration of these factors, prices in Baku change in higher speed rather in regions.
The IMF will dispatch its expert, Ann Shelly Winston to Azerbaijan for estimation of relevance of the methodology to international experience.
Despite the forecast for the future year increase of public expenses by 35%, the Azerbaijan Government is sure that it will be possible to retain the inflation in the regulated level. The head of the State Statistics Committee publicized on 29 October single-digit inflation for 2008 compared to 16.1%-16.3% forecasted for the results of 2007, though growth pace of inflation for the next year is forecast 14%.
As of 1 October 2007, the growth pace of inflation was 16% in an annual calculation.