According to data from the Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan, the monthly inflation rate in the country at the end of March was 0.6%. This is the highest level recorded since December. In annual terms, the price growth rate slowed from 7.3% a month earlier to 7.1%, but remained below the March last year level of 10.3%.

Food products rose by an average of 1.2% in March, with annual price growth at 5.6%. Non-food goods increased by 0.3% month-on-month and 5.3% year-on-year. Service prices rose by 0.2% over the month, slowing to 12.7% annually.

Among food products, meat and basic items continued to rise in March: eggs increased by 2.1%, beef by 1.2-1.8%, lamb by 1.2%, fish by 1.7%, and sugar by 1.7%. Prices for vegetable oils rose by 0.9%, flour by 0.6%, and milk by 0.3%. Meanwhile, rice and poultry became cheaper.

Among fruits and vegetables, tomatoes rose by 11.5%, bell peppers by 10%, potatoes by 9.8%, pumpkin by 9.4%, apples by 7.4%, and bananas by 6%. Prices for cucumbers, onions, and carrots decreased. Gasoline prices fell by an average of 0.9%, but increased by 9.2% over the year.

Due to the strengthening of the som against the euro and franc, air travel became cheaper by 4.1%, and train tickets by 0.5%. Prices for taxi services and international bus routes increased. In the housing and utilities sector, tariffs remained generally stable, but waste removal services rose by 0.9%.

At a meeting on March 30, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev set the task of keeping inflation at 6-6.5% within the initial forecast of the Central Bank. He instructed to take urgent measures on food imports, solving logistics problems, and using alternative transport routes. According to Central Bank Chairman Timur Ishmetov, inflation in the country remains at 7.3%, but fluctuations in oil prices and disruptions in logistics could intensify pressure on prices.

Source: www.gazeta.uz