Prices and situation in consumer market in Azerbaijan (January-November 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 19.239 billion AZN in January-November 2014, which is 9.5 percent more than in the same period of 2013. Legal entities ensured 11.7 percent of trade turnover, individual entrepreneurs - 51.4 percent, fairs and markets - 36.7 percent.

According to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, in January-November the food trade (9.635 billion AZN) increased by 3.6 percent from year to year, while retail sales of non-food products (9.604 billion AZN) - by 15.6 percent. Over this period, every citizen of the country acquired consumer goods at 185.9 AZN per month, which is 17.4 AZN more than in January-November 2013.

Paid services worth 6.060 billion AZN were rendered to the population in January-November 2014 or 6.5 percent more compared to the same period of 2013. Legal entities ensured 59.4 percent of this growth and rendered the services worth 4.5 billion AZN.

Each citizen bought paid services worth 58.5 AZN per month in January-November 2014 or 3 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 November 2014, the prices on consumer goods and tariffs on services increased by 0.1 percent compared to the previous month and by 1.5 percent in January-November compared to the same period 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 0.2 percent, non-food goods and tariffs for services remained unchanged in Azerbaijan in November compared to the previous month.

The food prices increased by 1.1 percent, non-food products - by 3.5 percent, tariffs for services - by 0.4 percent in the reporting period compared to January-November 2013.

In November, 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, remained unchanged compared to the previous month and increased by 1.7 percent compared to January-November 2013.

According to the State Statistics Committee's report, food prices in Azerbaijan are different. In November the prices on chicken, beef, lamb, cabbage, onions, beets, carrots, greens, apples and pomegranates reduced. But the prices on buckwheat, butter, margarine, granulated sugar, milk, eggs, tea, salt, flour, bread, rice, semolina, garlic, potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, greens, plums, grapes and pears increased.

The industrial producer price index reduced by 8.3 percent in Azerbaijan in November 2014 compared to October. During this period, producer prices in the mining industry decreased by 9.1 percent, while in the manufacturing industry - by 2.8 percent.

The tariffs for cargo and passenger transportation in Azerbaijan's transport sector decreased by 0.1 percent and 0.7 percent respectively in November 2014.

The tariffs for passenger transportation by air to CIS countries decreased by 4.8 percent, while by 1.8 percent via other foreign routes during this period, the State Statistics Committee said.

The tariffs for oil transportation via pipelines decreased by 0.2 percent in November.

Moreover, the tariffs for passenger transportation by railway to CIS countries increased by 2.1 percent in November.

The tariffs for freight and passenger transportation by vehicles and ships did not change in November.

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

Source: Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee