Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1
By Fakhri Vakilov – Trend:
The State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan has published data on the rise in prices for food products for March of this year, Trend reports with reference to the committee.
"In the first quarter of 2019, despite the general trend of rising food prices according to December 2018 (6.4 percent), changes in prices for each month are characterized by a tendency of slow growth. So, if in January food products rose by an average 8 percent, then in the following months, prices rose by 2 percent (February) and 1.5 percent (March)," the committee noted.
Out of the food products, the leadership in price growth in March 2019 belongs to fruits and vegetables, and dairy products, 4.5 percent and 1.5 percent per month respectively. At the same time, the prices for eggs decreased two months in a row; in February - by 0.2 percent, in March - by 1.2 percent.
From dairy products, milk became more expensive by 2.4 percent in March, sour milk - by 2.3 percent, cheese - by 2.1 percent, cream - by 1.5 percent . Regarding the end of 2018, sour milk rose by 12.5 percent, milk - by 11.6 percent and cream - by 10.3 percent.
From the other types of foodstuffs, the beans added 2.1 percent in March, boiled sausage - 1.9 percent, half-smoked sausage, live and chilled fish - 1.8 percent, smoked meat and pastry - 1.7 percent, buckwheat - 1.5 percent, butter - 1.3 percent.
"In general, over the three months since the beginning of the year, fruit and vegetable products have risen on average by 17.7 percent, including fruits - by 21.9 percent, vegetables - by 20.5 percent, potatoes - by 1.3 percent. Moreover, by degree of price increases relative to December 2018 the list are followed by dairy products (8.1 percent) and public catering (8.0 percent)," the committee said.
For the past month, the prices of cabbage (15.7 percent), melon and gourds (watermelons - 11.1 percent, melons - 12.7 percent), tomatoes (10.4 percent), grapes (9.4 percent), carrots (7.2 percent) and onions (6.2 percent) rose most significantly.
On the other hand, cucumbers became cheaper by 3.1 percent, potatoes - by 0.4 percent. Prices for other observed types of fruits and vegetables for the month have not changed significantly.
"Compared to December 2018, the leadership in price growth belongs to grapes (49.5 percent), watermelons (45.1 percent), tomatoes (44.6 percent), melons (34.1 percent), cabbage (26 percent), pears (25.1 percent), cucumbers (14.6 percent) and bananas (14.2 percent),” the State Statistics Committee stressed.
In annual terms, the prices of cabbage (3.1 times), carrots (2.1 times), melons (37.1 percent) and watermelons (34.9 percent), citrus and dried fruits (17.2 percent and 17 percent) rose more than others.
Furthermore, prices for garlic (by 41.6 percent), grapes (by 33 percent), potatoes (by 26.2 percent), onions (by 19 percent) and apples (by 18.6 percent) decreased.
In general, food products in March rose by 1.5 percent. Compared to the end of 2018, food prices increased on average by 6.4 percent.
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