Baku, Azerbaijan, May 29
By Fikret Dolukhanov – Trend:
Prices for goods and services in the consumer market of Uzbekistan taken together decreased by 0.6 percent in May 2018, the press service of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan stated.
Reportedly, prices on food products decreased 1.1 percent, prices of non-food products - 0.9 percent, while prices on services increased 1 percent.
The price changes were formed mainly under the influence of strengthening exchange rate of the soum, improving foreign trade conditions and competitive environment, as well as the new harvest of crops and vegetables. A gradual decrease in inflation expectations of the population and business entities contributed to price stability.
Prices for food products have changed in different directions. Prices of tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes decreased by 63.8 percent, 30.2 percent and 27.6 percent, respectively. Cheese and chicken also became cheaper (by 2.4 and 1.3 percent correspondingly).
At the same time, rice has risen in price by an average of 16.7 percent, due to the expected dry year, a deficit of irrigation water compared to previous years, a possible reduction of crop areas, as well as deferring the supply of rice from the side of the harvesters.
Beef and mutton have risen in price by 5 percent and 3.7 percent respectively because of the increasing feed prices in the retail market, as well as inadequate vegetation cover in pastures after a relatively low level of precipitation.
The prices for non-food products, especially household appliances and personal hygiene products, have been formed in conditions of increasing foreign trade, mainly in the border regions, gradual improvement of the competitive environment and strengthening of national currency.
TV sets fell in price by 8 percent, vacuum cleaners – by 4.4 percent, refrigerators and electric kettles – by 1.8 percent, soap – by 3.5 percent and shampoos – by 1.9 percent.
The increasing tariffs for natural gas in April 2018 led to a price hike on freight and passenger transportation services. The average bus ride prices in cities went up by 13.7 percent due to a significant increase in fees in certain regions.
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