Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 13
Trend:
Ordinary residents of Uzbekistan and businessmen in the country remain cautious about price stability in the short and medium term, Trend reports with reference to the press service of the Uzbek Central Bank.
During the fourth quarter of 2018, there was an increase in the index of perceived inflation. In December, the index of perceived inflation rose by 25 points (or 4 percent) compared to September and stood at 605 points. However, the December level of perceived inflation was significantly lower than at the beginning of 2018.
Out of main consumer goods, the most sensitive for the population were changes in the prices of flat cakes, rice, tomatoes, cucumbers, flour and beef. In December, the share of respondents who complained about increase in tariffs for utilities, fares and gasoline rose sharply.
In general, during 2018, 66 percent of Uzbeks complained about the rise in price of beef, 55 percent complained about the price of rice, 50 percent about the price of lamb and 44 percent about the prices of tomatoes and cucumbers.
During the period, inflationary expectations were formed in the context of rising utility tariffs, wages, prices for agricultural products and the weakening national currency.