BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
The main reason for the high inflation rate (1.5 percent) in April in Uzbekistan was the increase in the growth rate of food prices, Trend reports referring to the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan.
The committee reports that during the reporting period food products rose in price by three percent, non-food products - by 0.4 percent and services - by 0.5 percent.
It is noted that since the beginning of the year, prices in Uzbekistan have increased by 4.1 percent with an average monthly value of one percent, while from January to March 2021 inflation rate was below one percent. It was reported that the Central Bank predicted inflation in the range of 10 percent for 2021.
In particular, among food products and non-alcoholic beverages, fat and oil products are leading by a significant margin, increasing in price by 21.6 percent in April. In addition, prices for fruits and vegetables (3-4.6 percent) and sugar (5.7 percent) rose significantly.
Considering the annual terms, a significant increase was noted in prices for fat and oil products (1.6 times), sugar (30 percent), milk (14.9 percent) and eggs (26.8 percent), as well as meat products - beef with bones (15.3 percent) and mutton (17.6 percent).
In April, alcoholic products rose in price by 1.3 percent, tobacco products - by an average of 0.7 percent. Since the beginning of the year, cigarettes have become more expensive by 6.6 percent, alcoholic beverages - by 3.9 percent on average. In annual terms, tobacco products added in price by 13.8 percent, alcohol - by 9.4 percent.
In addition, the actual rent for housing in a number of regions increased in April, as a result of which the increase in inflation for the month for this type of service on average in the country amounted to 0.5 percent.
Among the main types of goods and services observed in the healthcare sector in April, prices for inpatient treatment and rehabilitation services increased more significantly than others over the month (2.2 percent).
Moreover, the growth of tariffs for passenger transport services by an average of 0.9 percent per month, as well as an increase in the cost of operating personal transport by 0.7 percent, had a decisive impact on inflation in the transport sector.
At the same time, the highest growth was not in prices for parking services (4.3 percent), maintenance and repair of vehicles (1.2 percent), gasoline (1.5 percent) and lubricants (1.1 percent).
Since the beginning of 2021, the most pronounced growth in prices was noted for gasoline (10.1 percent), and in annual terms - for air passenger transport services (1.3 times).
As for household goods and services, hairdressing services became more expensive over the month - 1.1 percent, services by personal service establishments - 0.3 percent, appliances, products and personal goods (excluding electrical ones) - by an average of 0.7 percent.
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