Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In October 2022, the average price level in the consumer market of Uzbekistan increased by 1.2%. In January-October 2022, the increase in prices in the consumer sector of Uzbekistan reached 9.4% with an average monthly value of 0.9%, the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan said.

In annual terms (relative to October 2021), the increase in consumer prices amounted to 12.2%.

The leader in price growth for the month in October 2022 was services, which increased in price by an average of 1.5%

Food products over the same period increased in price by 1.4%, non-food products - 0.9%.

In October this year, food products retained their leadership in price growth compared to the end of last year (11.5%) with an average monthly increase for January-October 2022 by 1.1%.

Non-food products for the specified period rose by 8.9% with an average monthly increase of 0.9%.

The increase in prices for paid services in January-October 2022 reached 6.4% with an average monthly value of 0.6%.

The increase in food prices in annual terms in October 2022 reached 15.9%, providing the undisputed leadership of this group of goods.

Non-food products, compared with October 2021, became more expensive by 10.7%, services - by 7.5%.

Despite the fact that services became the leader in price growth for the month in October this year, the key inflationary factor in the short term, taking into account the specific weight, was the increase in food prices. With a general increase in their prices for the month by 1.4%, their contribution to the increase in the consolidated indicator reached +0.58 p.p., which is about 46.8% of the total impact of the observed goods and services.

The share of services, which grew by 1.5% over the month, accounted for 27.4% of the total impact. Due to rising prices in this group, the consolidated CPI rose by 0.34 p.p. over the month.

The contribution of price increases for non-food products was the smallest among the three main groups and reached 0.32 p.p. (25.8%).

The dominant contribution to the growth of the consolidated CPI for October 2022 compared to December last year belongs to food products, which, having increased in price by an average of 11.5%, increased the consolidated CPI by 4.86 p.p.

The increase in the consolidated CPI for October 2022 compared to October last year was most tangibly affected by the increase in food prices, which, having risen in price by an average of 15.9%, increased the consolidated CPI by 6.72 p.p.

In October 2022, section XI "Restaurants and hotel services“ and section VI “Healtcare” (by 2.8% each) became the leaders in price growth for the month from the main sections of the COICOP 2018 of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The top three in terms of price growth relative to December 2021 included the following sections: "Restaurants and hotel services" (18.4%); "Healthcare" (13.5%) and "Recreation, sports and culture" (12.9%).

In October this year, milk, other dairy products and eggs (4.2%) are leading by a significant margin in terms of price growth for the month.

Further, vegetables, tubers and legumes (1.5%), meat products (1.2%) follow the growth in prices.

Cereal crops and cereal products (1.1%) also overcame the 1% milestone in price growth for the month.

Soft drinks, sugar, confectionery and desserts went up by 0.9%, while the minimum price increase was noted for fat and oil products, fruits and nuts (0.5% each).

The top three in terms of price growth in January-October 2022 included cereals (27.9%), sugar, confectionery and desserts (25.0%) and oil and fat products (12.7%).

The average level of prices for fruits and vegetables in October this year remained lower than at the end of last year. Thus, compared to the end of last year, fruits and nuts were sold cheaper by 8.3%, vegetables, tubers and legumes - by 3.3%.

In October 2022, the leading positions in terms of price growth in annual terms among the groups of section I "Food and nonalcoholic beverages" are held by cereals and cereals (31.4%), as well as sugar, confectionery and desserts (30.6%).

The least significant price increase compared to the level of October last year was noted for fruits and nuts (1.6%).

Compared to the same indicator for October 2021, the increase in prices in annual terms for October 2022 was lower for the following items: meat products (8.2% versus 14.6%); oil and fats (14.6% versus 31.2%); fruits and nuts (1.6% versus 15.4%); vegetables, tubers and legumes (7.5% versus 28.7%).

In October 2022, among the main observed food products (excluding fruits and vegetables), eggs (14.4%) became the leaders in price growth by a significant margin.

In terms of price increases relative to the end of 2021, granulated sugar and bread made from wheat flour of the 1st grade (1.5 times) retain the leading positions. In annual terms, granulated sugar and bread made from wheat flour of the 1st grade (1.6 times) went up more than others.

The seasonal factor continues to have a decisive influence on the level of prices for fruits and vegetables. Cucumbers became the leader in terms of price growth for the month (by 1.3 times).

Prices for lemons are falling for the second month in a row. In October this year, these citrus fruits again took the lead in their decline (-19.5%).

Onion holds the lead in price growth relative to the end of last year - in January-October of this year, it has become 1.6 times more expensive. The most tangible price reduction was noted for eggplant, which, compared to December 2021, became cheaper by 53.5%.

Onion also leads in price growth in annual terms. Thus, in October 2022, compared to October 2021, its prices increased by 1.7 times. Carrots became the leader among the main types of fruits and vegetables in terms of price reduction compared to October 2021 (-19.0%).

Among the goods included in section I. "Food and nonalcoholic beverages", the most significant contribution to the growth of the consolidated CPI was made by the increase in prices for milk, other dairy products and eggs, meat products, cereals and cereals, as well as vegetables, tubers and legumes (total +0.44 p.p., or 83.0%).

According to calculations, the most significant contribution to the growth of the consolidated CPI for January-October 2022 was made by the increase in prices for cereals and cereals. Due to the growth in prices for goods of this group, the consolidated CPI for the analyzed period increased by 2.29 p.p.

Price changes had a tangible impact on meat and fat products, sugar, confectionery and desserts, milk, other dairy products and eggs (total contribution +2.33 p.p.).

Due to the decrease in prices for fruits and vegetables, the consolidated indicator decreased by 0.51 p.p. by December 2021.

Leadership in terms of contribution to the growth of the consolidated CPI in annual terms for October 2022 from the main groups of section I. "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" retains price changes for grain crops and cereals. Their contribution to the growth of the composite indicator reached 2.58 p.p., which is 41.2% of the impact of food and nonalcoholic beverages, and 21.2% of the total impact of all goods and services.

In October 2022, the rent for housing increased significantly. On average, the increase in the republic reached 16.1%, and it was the largest in the capital. The price situation in the sphere of communal services remained stable.

The most significant increase in prices for the month occurred in the group "Goods and services used in connection with housekeeping" (2.1%). At the same time, household detergents and cleaning products increased in price by 2.5%, other non-durable goods - by 0.8%, other household services - by 2.8%.

This group leads both in terms of price growth in general for the ten months of 2022 (14.7%) and in annual terms (16.1%), and the most significant price increase in it was recorded for household detergents and cleaning products (by 16.9% against December and 18.3% against October last year.

In October 2022, other healthcare services (4.7%), including medical laboratory services (5.2%), diagnostic imaging services (3.3%) became the leader in monthly price growth in this section. The leadership in price growth both in January-October 2022 and in annual terms belongs to other healthcare services (16.3% and 16.7%, respectively). Among them, the prices for medical laboratory services increased most significantly (17.0% and 17.3%, respectively).

From the goods and services of the "Transport" section in October of this year, passenger transport services and transportation of goods (1.5% each) became the leaders in terms of price growth for the month. Of the main types of services included in these groups, the services of road passenger transport (2.4%) and transportation (relocation) (2.9%) have risen most significantly.

The limiting factor was the decrease in prices for air passenger transport services (-2.9%), as well as for fuel and lubricants (-1.6%). Propane fell in price by 5.3% over the month, gasoline - by 2.1%, methane - by 0.7%.

Superiority in price growth both for the period since the beginning of the current year and in annual terms belongs to courier services (1.4 times).

The average level of prices for information and communication equipment did not change during the month. Over the period since the beginning of the year, as well as in relation to October last year, peripheral equipment and its consumable components have risen in price more noticeably than others (by 7.1% and 8.2%, respectively).

According to information provided by mobile operators, a decrease in prices per unit of service provided by them was recorded. On average, for the observed tariff plans, it amounted to 3.0%.

Repair of information and communication equipment in October 2022 became more expensive by 1.8%, retaining its leadership in price growth both by December (11.2%) and September (12.9%) last year.

In October 2022, services for organizing cultural events became more expensive by 2.0%. At the same time, rent for premises for weddings and other events increased by 3.6%, tickets to cinemas rose by 2.8%, theaters - by 2.2%. In terms of price increases in January-October 2022, stationery and drawing materials, as well as newspapers and periodicals, are in the lead (by 1.4 and 1.2 times). The same two groups of goods occupy leading positions in terms of price growth in annual terms, becoming more expensive, respectively, by 37.4% and 23.8%.

In October of the current year, in a number of regions, an increase in prices for education services was recorded in non-state preschool organizations (by an average of 0.9% in the republic), nonstate universities (by an average of 7.7%). During the same period, training in courses became more expensive by 2.2%, tutor services - by 1.3%. The leader in terms of price growth both by December (10.1%) and October (12.4%) of the last year were services for training in educational courses.

The price situation in the insurance services market has remained stable both since the beginning of 2022 and in annual terms. In the financial services market in October this year, an increase in prices was recorded, which averaged 0.4%. This is due to an increase in fees for money transfers by an average of 1.7%. In January-October of the current year, the services of banking institutions became more expensive by 6.6%, the fee for money transfers increased by 2.4%, and the most noticeable price increase was recorded for money transfer services through electronic payment systems (17.7%). Leadership in price growth in annual terms is held by money transfer services through electronic payment systems (17.7%).

In October 2022, among the main household goods and services, the primacy in monthly price growth again belongs to hairdressing services (2.7%), which also lead both in price growth by December (21.4%) and by October (26.2%) last year.

Among other items and services for personal use, watch repair services (2.3%), which also lead in price growth in January-October 2022 (10.9%) and in annual terms (12.4%).

Among other services, the leadership in price growth per month (1.3%), for the period since the beginning of the current year (23.9%) and in annual terms (34.4%) belongs to photocopying services.

Section I: Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages maintains its lead in impact on both short-term composite CPI and long-term performance through December and October 2021.