Prices and situation in consumer market in Azerbaijan (Jan-Sept. 2014)

The Azerbaijani consumer market continues developing rapidly (9-10 percent) in 2014. The retail trade facilities, catering trade points are developing in the country both qualitatively and quantitatively.

According to the State Statistics Committee, the Azerbaijani trading networks sold consumer goods to the population at 15.471 billion AZN in January-September 2014, which is 9.4 percent more than in the same period of 2013. Legal entities ensured 11.8 percent of trade turnover, individual entrepreneurs - 58.5 percent, fairs and markets - 41.5 percent.

Around 50.1 percent accounted for the share of Azerbaijani retail trade facilities in the sale of food to the population or 3.2 percent more than in January-September 2013. Non-food items were sold in the amount of 7.7 billion AZN with a 15.9 percent growth.

During this period, every citizen of the country acquired consumer goods at 182.1 AZN per month or by 16.7 AZN more than in the same period of 2013.

Paid services worth 4.761 billion AZN were rendered to the population in January-September 2014 or 6.4 percent more compared to the same period of 2013. Legal entities ensured 60.5 percent of this growth and rendered the services worth 3.6 billion AZN.

Each citizen bought paid services worth 56.3 AZN per month in January-September 2014 or 2.9 AZN more than in the same period of 2013. Transportation, public utilities and communication services prevail in the structure of paid services. Besides improving the material condition, great using of paid services by the population is associated with the fact that the structure of rendered paid services is being improved. A network of companies is being developed in this sector.

Prices

According to the State Statistics Committee, in September 2014, the prices on consumer goods and tariffs on services increased by 1.1 percent compared to the previous month and by 1.5 percent in January-September compared to the nine months of 2013.

Thus, inflation in Azerbaijan, which is one of the indices of macroeconomic stability, hit only 1.5 percent.

The prices for food increased by 2.6 percent, non-food goods and tariffs for services remained unchanged in Azerbaijan in September compared to the previous month.

The food prices increased by 1 percent, non-food products - by 3.6 percent, tariffs for services - by 0.4 percent in the reporting period of the year compared to January-September 2013.

In September, the base index of consumer prices, calculated except for the goods and services subject to seasonal changes (fruits and vegetables) and the prices of which are regulated by the state, reduced by 0.1 percent compared to the previous month and increased by 1.8 percent for nine months compared to January-September 2013.

The food prices vary in Azerbaijan. The prices on flour, buckwheat, chicken, eggs, sunflower and corn oil, apples, pomegranates, grapes, chestnuts, pumpkin, sugar and granulated sugar reduced.

But the prices on rice, macaroni, beef and mutton, fish, sausages, butter, lemons, oranges, bananas, peaches, plums, watermelon, melon, walnuts, hazelnuts, cabbages, greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, beans, beets, carrots, garlics, onions and potatoes increased.

The tariffs for air and rail passenger transportation to the CIS countries reduced and the tariffs for air passenger transportation at the international flights increased in September.

The cargo transportation tariffs increased by 0.4 percent in Azerbaijan's transport sector in September 2014. The passenger transportation tariffs increased by 3.2 percent. The passenger air transportation in the CIS countries for this period increased by 12.5 percent, while other foreign destinations - by 19.1 percent. The tariffs on passenger rail transportation in the CIS countries reduced by six percent in September.

The industrial producer price index reduced by 4.0 percent in Azerbaijan in September 2014 compared to August. During this period, producer prices in the mining industry decreased by 4.6 percent, while in the manufacturing industry - by 0.4 percent.

Average market price and indices of basic food commodities in January-September 2014

Source: Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee