In March 2023, goods and services in the consumer sector increased in price by 1% on average, and the annual inflation rate reached 11.7%. Inflation in the food sector is 14.6%.

Last month, food products took the leading place in the growth of prices and tariffs, and their prices increased by an average of 1.6% during the month (for comparison, food inflation was 0.7 in February). Kun.uz analyzed price changes based on the Statistics Agency data.

Special types of food products

Over the past 12 months, sunflower oil has increased in price by 2.7%. However, sunflower oil fell by 1.2% in March and by 3.1% year-to-date.

The price of sugar increased by 31.1% year-on-year, by 4.4% compared to December 2022, and by 4.7% in March of this year.

Beef with bones, which is considered as another main consumer goods, has increased in price by 11% and mutton by 10.4% year-on-year.

Since March last year, the price of eggs has increased by 32.5%, and the price of milk by 18.3%. If we compare this indicator with December 2022, the price of eggs has decreased by 0.5%. The price of milk increased by 4.9%.

The price of rice increased by 35.7% and wheat flour by 35.1% year-on-year. In March alone, the price of rice increased by 2%.

The increase in the prices of certain types of basic food products: sugar, eggs, milk, rice and wheat flour is higher than the annual inflation rate – 11.7%.

Vegetables and fruits

If we look at the dynamics of the price changes of individual fruits and vegetables, compared to March 2022, onions increased in price by 135.5%, bananas – by 15.6%, carrots – by 11.8%, tomatoes – by 11.4%, greens – by 10.9% %, pumpkin – by 10.8%, cucumber – by 10.2%, beetroot – by 5.4%. In addition, potatoes have become by 6.2%, lemon – by 16.5%, cabbage – by 24.1%, and garlic – by 27.1%.

Fuel products

Passenger transport services increased in price by 16.2%, goods transportation services – by 17.3% in annual ratio.

Gasoline prices fell by an average of 1.5% and propane by 0.5% in March. In five regions of Uzbekistan, a decrease in taxi prices (in the range of 3.6-25%) was recorded last month after the increase in prices during the winter season.

For information, the price of fuel products is very important for the economy. In particular, an increase in the price of gasoline does not reduce consumption proportionally and puts pressure on the prices of all goods and services.

Earlier, it was reported that the period of application of excise tax at “zero” rate for Ai-80 gasoline product was extended until December 31, 2023.

Also, compared to March of last year, prices of household goods increased by 9.5%, prices of clothes and shoes – by 8.5%, and furniture and financial services – by 7.7%.