According to data from the State Statistics Committee, inflation in Uzbekistan in February 2026 stood at 0.6%, a figure consistent with the new calculation formula. In annual terms, compared to February 2025, price growth accelerated to 7.3%, up from 7.2% in January. However, a year earlier, in February 2025, annual inflation was higher at 10.1%, with a monthly rate of 0.5%.
Food prices increased by an average of 0.9% in February, higher than the 0.6% in February 2025, and rose by 5.9% in annual terms, significantly above last year's 2.9%. Non-food goods became more expensive by 0.2% month-on-month and 5.2% year-on-year, while services increased by 0.6% month-on-month and 13.3% year-on-year, lower than last year's 27.1% but still at an elevated level.
Among key food items, month-on-month price increases were recorded for lamb at 2.6% (+27.4% year-on-year), boneless beef at 1.6% (+24%), bone-in beef at 1.6% (+22.4%), poultry meat at 1.4-1.8% (+7% to +7.5%), raw milk at 0.4% (+5.8%), eggs at 0.7% (+14.8%), vegetable oils at an average of 0.4% (+12.8%), and sugar at 2.2% (-0.6%). Among major fruits and vegetables, tomatoes rose by 12.1%, pumpkin by 11.7%, potatoes by 5%, bell peppers by 4.2%, apples by 4.1%, and lemons by 3.6%, while cucumbers fell by 13.8%, mandarins by 5.6%, oranges by 5.4%, beets by 1.7%, and onions by 0.9%.
In annual terms, the highest price increase was seen for lemons at 90%, with apples (+12.4%), carrots (+8.8%), and cabbage (+10.6%) also becoming more expensive. However, prices for pumpkin (-57.1%), bell peppers (-15.1%), and tomatoes (-12.5%) declined significantly. In February, tariffs for basic utilities remained stable overall, but fees for household waste removal in some regions increased by 4.7%, rising by 32.6% year-on-year.
Housing rents increased by 0.5% month-on-month, up 2.3% year-on-year, while materials and services for housing maintenance and repair rose by 0.4%, up 6.2% year-on-year. In the medical sector, outpatient treatment prices increased by 1.1%, up 6.5% year-on-year, diagnostic and laboratory services by 0.8%, up 9.3% year-on-year, inpatient treatment by 0.6%, up 7.1% year-on-year, and medicines and medical supplies by 0.4%, up 3.9% year-on-year.
Gasoline prices fell by 0.5% month-on-month but remain 10.1% higher year-on-year, propane prices increased by 1.9%, up 9.7% year-on-year, methane prices saw no significant change month-on-month (+0.1%) but are 30.3% higher year-on-year. Services for personal car maintenance and repair became more expensive by 0.8%, up 6.9% year-on-year. Starting in February, tariffs for long-distance trains increased by 14%, up 14.9% year-on-year, while airfares rose by 4.4%, down 0.2% year-on-year.
The highest monthly inflation rates were recorded in Navoi and Kashkadarya regions (0.9%). In annual terms, the highest growth was observed in Fergana region (7.8%) and the Republic of Karakalpakstan (7.6%). From 2026, inflation in Uzbekistan is calculated under a new methodology: the basket of goods and services has been expanded, the Consumer Price Index formula has been revised, the volume of price data has increased, and publication deadlines have been shifted. The State Statistics Committee stated that these changes aim to more accurately reflect real price changes.
Source: www.gazeta.uz