Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In May 2019, the average consumer prices for goods and services in Uzbekistan increased by 0.7%. This was reported by the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan.

In general, in January-May 2019, goods and services in the consumer market became more expensive by 6.0%. Compared to May 2018, the average price level in the consumer sector of Uzbekistan increased by 13.7%. In May 2018, on average per month, goods and services went up by 0.8%, compared to December 2017 - by 6.6%, in May 2017 - by 19.0%.

As for price changes in the context of enlarged groups, by the end of May 2019, the goods for the month went up by 0.6%, including food - by 0.5%, non-food - by 0.7%. Services have become more expensive by 1.5%. In May 2018, on average, foodstuffs added 0.2% to the price per month, non-foodstuff products - 0.6%, services - 2.1%.

In general, in January-May 2019, foodstuffs went up by 7.9%, non-food products - by 4.6%, services - by 4.6%. In annual terms (May 2019 compared to May 2018), food products became more expensive by 16.3%, non-food products - by 11.2%, services - by 12.5%. In May 2018 compared to December 2017, food prices increased by 6.6%, non-food products - by 5.8%, services - by 7.6%.

Compared with May 2017, the price increase was respectively 21.4%, 18.6% and 13.7%. Compared to the level of December 2017, the leadership in consumer price growth belongs to food products (24.0% increase in 17 months), followed by services (21.1%) and non-food products (17.6%). The calculation of the structure of the impact of price changes, taking into account the share of each enlarged group, showed that in May 2019 the contribution of goods to the growth of the composite consumer price index for the month amounted to 0.4 percentage points (pp), services - 0.3 pp.

In May 2018, the main inflationary pressure was exerted by the change in tariffs for services (0.5 percentage points), while goods provided an increase in the composite consumer price index for the month by only 0.3 percentage points. Analysis of the dynamics of the impact of price fluctuations on the main groups of goods and services on the growth of the composite consumer price index for each month from January to May 2019 is characterized by a tendency to a gradual decrease in absolute terms, the effect of price changes on food products (in January - 1.2 percentage points, February - 0.9 pp, March - 0.6 pp, April - 0.4 pp and May - 0.2 pp).

Along with this, the contribution of the increase in food prices to the increase in the composite consumer price index relative to the end of 2018 remains predominant (food products - 3.4 pp vs. 1.6 pp - non-food products and 1.0 pp - services). The impact of rising food prices in the growth of the composite consumer price index as compared to May 2018 was 7.1 pp, non-food - 3.9 pp, services - 2.7 pp.

In specific indicators, the share of the impact of rising food prices on the growth of the composite consumer price index for the month in May 2019 was 27.0%, non-food products - 31.1%, services - 41.9%. In January 2018, the ratio of the impact of goods and paid services to the population was, respectively, 89.0% and 11.0%, in February - 85.5% and 14.5%, in March - 90.4% and 9.6%, in April - 32 , 6% and 67.4%, May - 39.2 and 60.8%. The dynamics of the contribution of price changes in goods and services to the growth of the composite consumer price index relative to December of the previous year is characterized by a gradual decrease in inflationary pressure from food products (the share of influence decreased from 80.0% to 56.9%).

The contribution of the increase in prices for non-food products in specific terms, by contrast, increased from 13.3% in January to 26.5% - in May 2019. The share of the impact of growth in tariffs on services on the growth of the composite index of the consumer price index increased from 6.7% in January 2019 to 16.6% in May. Regarding the structure of the composite consumer price index in annual terms, in May 2019, the impact of a rise in food prices was 7.1 pp, or 52.0%, non-food products - 3.9 pp, or 28.2%, paid services to the population - 2.7 percentage points, or 19.8%.

Over the month, foodstuffs went up by 0.5%, which ensured an increase in the composite consumer price index for this period by 0.2 percentage points. Since the beginning of 2019, prices for goods of this group have increased by an average of 7.9%. In annual terms (May 2019 compared to May 2018), goods of this group became more expensive by 16.3%. In May 2018, food products for a month became more expensive by 0.2%. In January-May 2018, prices in this product group increased by 6.6%.

Despite the fact that, in general, the trend of price changes in food for January-May 2019 was manifested in a rise in prices by 7.9%, the dynamics of price changes for each month of this period reflects a general slowdown in price growth (from 2.8%) in January up to 0.5% - in May 2019). Non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages (1.5% and 1.4% respectively), as well as meat products (0.7%) occupy leading positions in price growth in May of this year.

In May 2018, the top three leaders in price increases were meat products (2.4%), soft drinks (0.9%) and bakery products (0.5%). It should be noted that in May 2018, the average level of prices for fruits was reduced (by 2.3%), whereas in May 2019, fruits, vegetables and potatoes, on the contrary, slightly increased in price (by 0.4%), for which greatly influenced by the climatic conditions of this spring.

Of the fruits and vegetables, prices for onion (24.8%), carrots (10.4%), apples (7.2%) rose most significantly in the past month. Against this background, fresh cucumbers became cheaper by 46.9%, tomatoes - by 31.4%, cabbage - by 6.8%. As of December 2018, the lead in price growth belongs to grapes (1.9 times), watermelons, and onions (1.6 times).

Along with this, in the five months of 2019, prices for cucumbers decreased by almost 2/3. In annual terms, the prices of cabbage (2.9 times), carrots (2.3 times), onions (1.6 times), beets (1.4 times) rose more than others.

During this period cucumbers fell most significantly - by 38.3%, garlic - by 30.2%, grapes - by 27.7%, tomatoes - by 23.2%, apples - by 22.3%, and potatoes - by 13.6%. In general, over the past period in 2019, fruit and vegetable products increased in price by 20.9%, dairy - by 9.9%, alcoholic - by 7.7%, bakery products - by 4.9%, sugar, tea and other products - by 4, eight%. The decrease in prices was noted only for eggs, which for five months became cheaper by 4.3%. The prices of mutton (by 0.9%), rice and beef, except for boneless meat (by 0.7%) increased more than a month from the main food products indicated in the infographics of basic foodstuffs in May. The decrease in prices was noted for poultry meat, except for chicken legs (by 0.8%), and eggs (by 1.1%).

Regarding the end of 2018, the main increase in prices was registered for milk (by 13.3%) and rice (by 7.9%). Eggs and poultry meat, respectively, became cheaper by 4.3% and 1.4%. Compared to May 2018, rice became more expensive by 57.8%, milk - by 24.4%, beef (except for boneless meat) - by 17.7%, lamb - by 17.2%, flour - by 17.1 % Analysis of the contribution of price changes for the main groups of food products showed that in May of the current year, the degree of influence on the composite index of consumer price index for the month, taking into account the share of each group of goods, belongs to meat products (0.07 percentage points).

This is followed by bread and fruit and vegetable products (by 0.03 pp), dairy products, sugar, tea and other products, alcoholic beverages and catering (by 0.02 pp). In the structure of the composite index of consumer prices for May 2019 to December of the previous year, fruit and vegetables occupy the leading place (1.7 percentage points). Next in line with the decrease of influence are meat products (0.5 pp), bread products (0.4 pp), dairy products, sugar, tea and other products (0.3 pp each). In May 2018, the leadership in terms of impact on the consolidated indicator for the month belonged to meat products (0.3 percentage points), as compared to December 2017, fruit and vegetable products (1.3 percentage points).

Non-food products in May 2019, on average, went up by 0.7%, which led to an increase in the composite consumer price index for the month by 0.2 percentage points. In general, in January-May 2019 to December of the previous year, compared with the same indicator in January-May 2018, a relative slowdown in the growth rates of prices for non-food products is observed. Thus, in the first five months of 2019, prices for non-food products increased by an average of 4.6%, while in the same period of 2018, this figure was 5.8%.

The relative slowdown in rates is also indicated by the dynamics of price changes in annual terms: 11.2% - in May 2019 versus 18.6% - in May 2018. Of the main groups of non-food products, in May 2019, the prices of fabrics and yarn increased most significantly - by 1.5%, personal care products - by 1.0% and fuel for cars - by 0.9%.

In addition, the increase in prices for a month for printed products (1.3%), agricultural implements and jewelry (1.2%) was higher than the average. Compared to December 2018, printed products (19.3%), communications (11.5%), washing and cleaning products (10.7%), foodstuffs (8.6%), basic household goods and electrical appliances went up in price significantly. (8.4%), personal care products and agricultural implements (6.3%), fabrics and yarns (6.2%). In annual terms, the highest growth was in prices for coal for domestic needs - by 1.7 times, printed products - by 21.0%, matches - by 18.6%, fuel for cars - by 17.5%, tobacco products - by 16.8%, communications - by 16.7%.

Among the main groups of non-food products, the dominant impact on the consolidated consumer price index for May 2019 compared to the previous month, taking into account the share, was the growth in prices for clothes and shoes (total 0.07 percentage points), building materials (0.03 percentage points .) and fuel for cars, fabrics and yarn (0.02 pp).

The contribution of the increase in prices for clothes and shoes to the increase in the composite consumer price index as compared to December 2018 was 0.51 pp, household textiles, fabrics and yarn, personal care products - 0.21 pp, building materials - 0, 11 percentage points The increase in tariffs for paid services to the population in May 2019 amounted to 1.5%, which led to an increase in the composite consumer price index for the month by 0.3 percentage points.

Since the beginning of 2019, tariffs in this area have increased by an average of 4.6%. Compared to May of the previous year, the increase in tariffs was 12.5%. Over the past since the beginning of 2019, the most significant for the month tariffs increased in March (1.2%) and May (1.5%). Comparison of tariff growth in January-May 2018 and 2019 showed that they increased significantly in 2018 (7.6% versus 4.6%), which was determined by the increase in tariffs in the housing sector in April and May 2018 (for the month, respectively, by 9.3% and 2.3%).

The decisive impact on the index of tariffs for paid services to the population in May 2019 had an increase in the cost of services of pre-school educational institutions. In addition, the growth of tariffs exceeding the one-percent threshold was registered for sports services (2.5%) and domestic services (1.3%). Of the types of personal services observed in May 2019, parking fees (by 5.3% for the month and by 15.4% for the beginning of the year), car washing and freight services by road (by 2.1%) per month), bath and shower services (by 1.9%), repair of garments (by 1.5%), hairdressing and cosmetologists (by 1.2%).

Since the beginning of 2019, domestic services have risen in price by 8.6%, housing and communal services - by 1.2%, passenger transport - by 1.9%, communications - by 4.2%, cultural institutions - by 4.6%, sports - by 5.8%, by rest - by 9.0%, medical - by 3.1%, education - by 6.9%. Taking into account the specific weight of each service group, leading positions in terms of impact on the summary indicator for May 2019 were divided by services of pre-school education (0.21 percentage points), household (0.05 percentage points), passenger transport (0.02 pp).

In the structure of the tariff index for services in January-May 2019, the leadership in terms of the degree of influence belongs to household services (0.3 percentage points), the services of pre-school educational institutions — pre-school education institutions (0.21 percentage points) and other education, including higher education and courses (0.12 pp). From May 2018 to May 2019, education services (22.7%), pre-school educational and sports institutions (respectively 18.7% and 17.4%), housing and communal services (12.9%) rose in price most significantly.