Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In December 2020, the average level of consumer prices and tariffs in Uzbekistan increased by 1.6%. In January-December 2020, prices and tariffs in the consumer market increased on average by 11.1%, the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan said.

In January-December 2019, goods and services increased on average by 15.2% The average monthly increase in the consolidated CPI for January-December 2020 was 0.9%

In 2019, the average monthly increase in the consolidated CPI was at the level of 1.2%.

Food products in the last month of 2020 increased on average by 2.4% (3.3% in December 2019), non-food products - by 0.9% (0.5%), services - by 0.9% (0.3%).

The rise in food prices in December 2019 resulted in an increase in the consolidated CPI for the month by 1.4 percentage points, which is 85.7% of the total increase.

Due to the growth in food prices, the consolidated CPI in December 2020 increased by 1.1 percentage points over the month, which is 68.0% of the total increase.

The increase in prices for non-food products added 0.2 p.p. to the consolidated indicator for the month (10.1% of the total increase).

The rise in prices for non-food products added 0.3 percentage points to the consolidated indicator for the month. (19.2% of the total increase).

The increase in prices and tariffs for services provided an increase in the aggregate indicator for the month by an additional 0.1 percentage points (4.2% of the total increase).

The increase in prices and tariffs for services increased the consolidated indicator for the month by an additional 0.2 percentage points (12.8% of the total increase).

During 2020, the range of fluctuations in the contribution to the monthly increase in the consolidated CPI of price changes for non-food products was at the level of 0.1-0.4 percentage points, paid services to the population - within 0.1-0.2 percentage points. Against this background, the range of the contribution of food inflation during 2020 was wider (from - 0.6 p.p. to 1.4 p.p.). At the same time, during October and November 2020, the impact of food inflation was equal (1.0 p.p. for each month), and in December it increased by 0.1 p.p. A similar situation was noted for non-food products (0.3 p.p. each), while for services this indicator was fixed within 0.1-0.2 p.p.

In general, in January-December 2020, the level of prices for food products increased by 15.3%, non-food products - by 8.8%, services - by 7.1%.

In December 2020, as in previous months, the dominance of the contribution to the growth of the consolidated CPI against December of the previous year of price changes for food products remained.

By the end of 2020, the contribution of price changes for goods to the increase in the consolidated CPI by December 2019 reached 9.5 percentage points, including food - 6.5 percentage points, non-food - 3.0 percentage points. The impact of services was 1.6 p.p.

In specific indicators, the share of the impact of price changes in food products in December 2020 amounted to 58.2%, non-food products - 27.3%, services - 14.5% of the total increase in the consolidated CPI by December 2019.

Monthly comparison of the annual CPI for the main groups of goods and services for January-December 2019 and 2020 showed that during the specified period the maximum absolute difference in indicators for food products was recorded in April (3.1 points), for non-food products - in September and October (3.9 points), for services - in September (13.6 points).

In December 2020, the observed types of food products increased in price on average over a month by: 2.4%. In December 2019, on average monthly prices for food products increased by 3.3%.

In January-December 2020, food prices increased on average by 15.3%. In January-December 2019, food prices increased on average by 18.6%.

The average monthly CPI growth for goods of this group in 2020 was 1.2%. The average monthly CPI growth for goods of this group in 2019 was 1.4%.

The short-term CPI versus the previous month in this group was largely influenced by the seasonal rise in prices for fruits and vegetables, as well as for meat, dairy, fat and oil products and eggs.

Of the main observed groups of food products in December 2020, the most significant price increase was recorded for fruits and vegetables (7.3%). Eggs increased in price over the month by 3.5%, fat and oil products - by 2.2%, dairy products - by 1.6%, sugar, tea and other food products - by 1.4%, meat, poultry and fish - on average by 1.2%. Prices in the catering sector in December increased by 1.4%, alcoholic beverages rose by 1.1%, non-alcoholic - by 0.4%.

Compared to the end of 2019, the most significant price increases were recorded for eggs (37.6%), oil and fats (27.0%), meat, poultry and fish (18.1%), as well as for bakery products (15.2%).

The peak of growth in prices for bakery products in 2020 was recorded in April, when prices for goods in this group increased by an average of 4.3%. The average monthly CPI growth in January-December in this group was 1.2%.

Among bakery products (including cereals and legumes), higher prices for peas (2.5%) and mung bean (2.0%) were recorded for the month than for other goods in this group.

Since the beginning of the year, buckwheat (more than 1.5 times) and beans (by 36.2%) have risen more than others.

The peak of growth in prices for meat, poultry and fish was registered in September (3.8%), and their minimum increase was in January, June and July (0.4% each).

The CPI for these products in December 2020 against December 2019 amounted to 118.1% with an average monthly growth of 1.4%.

In December 2020, meat, poultry and fish prices increased on average by 1.2% per month (from the beginning of the year by 18.1%). Over the month, pork added in price by 2.4% (16.4%), lamb - by 1.1% (25.6%), boneless beef - by 1.0% (21.3%), other beef - by 0.9% (21.1%), minced meat - by 1.2% (17.9%). Over the last month of the year, poultry meat has risen in price by 1.6-1.8% (from the beginning of the year in the range from 3.9% to 6.5%), live, fresh, chilled fish - by 2.9% (13.5%).

The peak of growth in egg prices was registered in October (by 17.7% over the month), the largest decline was in March (-3.5%). In December, they became more expensive by 3.5%.

The CPI for eggs in December 2020 amounted to 137.6% by December 2019, and the average monthly growth of the index reached 2.7%.

The maximum monthly prices for dairy products increased in April (2.5%), the minimum - in July (0.1%). The increase in prices in December for the month amounted to 1.6%.

The CPI for dairy products in December 2020 amounted to 111.5% against December 2019, with an average monthly growth of the index of 0.9%

Among dairy products, prices for fresh milk (3.1%) and Suzma (2.8%) rose more significantly than others. The most significant price growth relative to the end of 2019 was recorded for fresh milk (17.8%), as well as for kefir and yogurt (15.9%).

The peak of growth in prices for the month for fruit and vegetable products was noted in November (7.8%), and the maximum decrease was in June (-8.4%). In December, fruits and vegetables grew on average by 7.3%. 

At the same time, the average price level for these products in December 2020 was 11.9% higher than at the end of 2019.

Among fruit and vegetable products in December 2020, the most pronounced growth in prices for fresh cucumbers and bell peppers (1.7 times) was the most pronounced over the month.

Along with this, a decrease in prices was recorded for bananas (-2.6%), turnips and lemons (-2.5%), as well as carrots (-0.9%).

Lemons (1.8 times) continue to hold the lead in price growth relative to the end of 2019, and bell peppers (-56.0%) in terms of decline.

The peak of growth in prices for sugar, tea and other products was registered in October (2.3%), the minimum increase - in January and July (0.2%). In December, prices for goods of this group increased by 1.4% on average.

Since the beginning of the year, prices for sugar, tea and other food products have increased by 11.8% on average, with an average monthly increase in the price index of 0.9%.

Prices for granulated sugar in December 2020 increased by 2.1% (since the beginning of the year - by 21.0%), refined sugar - by 2.1% (18.7%). Over the month, confectionery increased in price by 1.5% (from the beginning of the year - by 12.0%), coffee and tea - by 1.1% (by 8.6%), other food products (salt, spices, seasonings and others) - by 0.7% (6.7%).

The most significant increase in prices for oil and fats during 2020 was recorded in October (by 9.5% over the month). Over the last month of the year, the increase in prices for the group amounted to 2.2%.

In general, in 2020, fat and oil products increased in price by an average of 27.0%, with an average monthly increase in the price index by 2.0%.

Over the past month, sunflower oil increased in price by 2.6%, cottonseed oil - by 2.4%,

margarine - by 2.2%, butter – by 1.4%, animal and melted fats – by 1.2%.

Since the beginning of the year, cottonseed oil has risen in price by 32.3%, sunflower oil – by 31.4%, animal and rendered fats - by 15.0%, butter - by 14.5%, margarine - by 14.2%.

The annual CPI for December 2020, compared to the same indicator for 2019, was higher for eggs (137.6% versus 131.8%), oils and fats (127.0% versus 107.5%) and sugar, tea and other products (111.8% versus 111.4%).

The most significant contribution to the change in the aggregate indicator for the last month of 2020 was made by price changes for fruits and vegetables (0.57 percentage points, or over 50% of the total impact of food products). Due to the rise in prices for meat, poultry and fish, the consolidated CPI for the month increased by 0.13 percentage points, sugar, tea and other food products - by 0.08 percentage points, oil and fats - by 0.07 percentage points. p., dairy products - by 0.06 p.p., bakery products - by 0.06 p.p., eggs - by 0.03 p.p.

In the structure of the consolidated CPI growth by December 2019, the most significant share of food products belongs to meat, poultry and fish (1.85 percentage points), as well as bread products (1.04 percentage points). In total, they provided over 44% of the total impact of food products and over 25% of the increase in the consolidated CPI for the year. Due to the increase in prices for fruits and vegetables, the consolidated CPI by December 2019 increased by 0.92 percentage points, oil and fats - by 0.80 percentage points, sugar, tea and spices – by 0.70 percentage points, dairy products - by 0.40 p.p., eggs - by 0.32 p.p., public catering - by 0.28 p.p., alcoholic beverages - by 0.10 p.p.

Non-food products in December 2020 increased on average by 0.9%. In December 2019, over the month, food prices increased by 0.5%. In December 2020, relative to December 2019, the increase in prices for goods of this group was 8.8%.

In 2019, food prices increased on average by: 10.9%. The average monthly CPI growth for goods of this group in 2020 was 0.7%. In 2019, the average monthly CPI growth for non-food products was at the level of 0.9%.

In December 2020, of the main observed groups of non-food products, jewelry and fuel for cars, which became more expensive by 2.5%, shared the leadership in terms of price growth over the month.

Compared to December 2019, prices for printed products (14.6%), medicines (13.3%), tobacco products (11.6%) and construction materials (11.2%) increased most significantly.

Of the main groups of non-food products in 2020, higher than in 2019, the increase in prices was noted for building materials (11.2% versus 7.3%), medicines (13.3% versus 6.9%), as well as for personal transport (8.8% versus 5.2%). Significantly lower than in 2019, the price of fuel for cars went up (7.5% versus 20.8%). At the end of December 2020, of the main groups of non-food products, the most significant contribution to the growth of the consolidated CPI for the month, taking into account the specific weight, was made by the increase in prices for clothing and footwear (0.11 p.p.), fuel and spare parts for cars (0.07 p.p.).

The most significant contribution to the growth of the consolidated CPI in annual terms was made by the increase in prices for clothing and footwear (0.91 p.p. in total). Building materials and medicines, which added 0.37 p.p. to the consolidated CPI, shared the third place in terms of influence. In third place are personal vehicles, fuel and spare parts for cars, which increased the aggregate indicator by another 0.34 percentage points.

In December 2020, monthly tariffs for paid services to the population increased by 0.9%. In December 2019, on average per month, paid services increased by 0.3%.

In December 2020, relative to December 2019, the increase in tariffs in the service sector was 7,1%. In 2019, services increased on average by 15.2%.

The average monthly CPI growth for paid services to the population in 2020 was 0,6%. In 2019, the average monthly CPI growth for paid services to the population was at the level of 1.2%.

The leading positions in the growth of tariffs in December 2020 are occupied by household services (2.0%) and medical services (1.9%).

In annual terms, the most significant price increase in 2020 was recorded for services of state preschool educational organizations (15.2%), household services (13.6%), medical services (12.2%) and passenger transport services (11.5%).

The most significant contribution to the growth of the consolidated CPI for the month was made by the increase in prices and tariffs for household (0.09 p.p.) and medical (0.05 p.p.) services, as well as for passenger transport services (0.03 p.p.).

Of the main observed groups of paid services to the population, a more significant contribution to the increase in the consolidated CPI in annual terms was the contribution of the increase in tariffs for household services (0.62 p.p.), passenger transport services (0.36 p.p.) and medical services (0.31 p.p.). In total, they provided over 79% of the total impact of services and about 11.6% of the increase in the consolidated CPI for 2020.