Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In January 2022, goods and services in the consumer market of Uzbekistan became more expensive on average by 0.9%, the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan said in a report.

In annual terms (relative to January 2021), the increase in prices in the consumer sector amounted to 9.8%.

The short-term consolidated CPI in January 2022 was 0.1 points lower than in January 2021 and 0.3 points higher than in January 2020.

The annualized CPI for January 2022 was 1.8 points lower than in January 2021 and 4.5 points lower than in January 2020.

The leaders in the growth of prices and tariffs for the first month of 2022 were food products, which increased in price by an average of 1.3%.

Non-food products over the same period increased in price by 0.5%, paid services to the population - by 0.7%.

Food products are leaders in price growth in annual terms.

Thus, in January 2022, relative to January 2021, they increased in price by an average of 13.1%.

Non-food products and paid services for the same period, respectively, became more expensive by 7.8% and 6.9%.

In January 2022, due to rising prices for food products, the consolidated CPI increased by 0.54 p.p. over the month, non-food products - by 0.17 p.p.

The increase in tariffs for services added another 0.15 percentage points to the consolidated indicator.

In the structure of the annual consolidated CPI for January 2022, the contribution of food inflation was also pronounced (5.53 p.p.).

Non-food products accounted for 2.71 p.p., services - 1.60 p.p.

In January 2022, fruit and vegetable products traditionally took the lead in monthly price increases.

Thus, fruits and nuts increased in price, compared to the end of 2021, by 3.1%, vegetables, tubers, plantains and legumes - by 5.8%.

Meat products, on the contrary, fell slightly in price over the month (0.4% on average).

The increase in prices for the month in January 2022, compared to the same indicator for January last year, was higher for cereals and cereals (0.9% versus 0.6%), as well as for vegetables, tubers, plantains and legumes (5.8% versus 2.3%).

Compared to the short-term monthly price change in January 2020, the increase in monthly prices in January 2022 was higher for almost all items in the section, with the exception of meat products (a decrease of 0.4% in January 2022 against an increase of 0.4 % in January 2020) and milk, dairy products and eggs (up 0.4% in January 2022 vs. 1.1% in January 2020).

The leading positions in terms of price growth in annual terms for January 2022 belong to vegetables, tubers, plantains, legumes (26.8%) and oil and fat products (25.0%). The third position was shared by fruits and nuts, as well as sugar, confectionery and desserts (14.4% each).

Significantly added in the price of fish and other seafood (12.2%), as well as meat products (10.3%). The rest of the groups in this section did not overcome the 10% threshold of price growth in annual terms. 

The annual increase in prices in January 2022, compared with the same indicator for January last year, was higher for vegetables, tubers, plantains and legumes (26.8% vs. 7.3%), ready-made food and other foodstuffs (7.6% vs. 7.5%), soft drinks (8.4% vs. 6.5%).

In January of this year, among the main food products (excluding fruit and vegetable products), prices for butter (1.7%), fresh milk and wheat flour (1.3% each), as well as granulated sugar (1.0%) increased the most significantly over the month.

A decrease in prices was noted for eggs (-0.9%), rice of all varieties and rice cut (-0.3%), beef and mutton (within 0.2-0.6%).

The leading positions in terms of price growth in annual terms for January 2022 belong to vegetable oil (1.3 times) and granulated sugar (23.7%). A slight decrease in prices was recorded for rice (-0.3%) and eggs (-0.1%).

In January 2022, eggplant became the leader in terms of price growth for the month from fruit and vegetable products (by 1.3 times). In addition, prices for cucumbers (18.4%), tomatoes and bell peppers (15.9% each), cabbage (6.6%), apples (5.6%), garlic (5.5%) and greens have risen significantly. (4.5%).

The leading positions in terms of price reduction for the month belong to tangerines (-6.2%) and oranges (-3.5%).

The top three in terms of price growth in annual terms in January 2022 were white cabbage (1.8 times), eggplant (1.7 times) and carrots (1.6 times). Beetroot (39.8%), pumpkin (34.3%), fresh tomatoes (32.9%) went up significantly.

The most significant price reduction, compared to January last year, was noted for fresh cucumbers (-14.5%), bananas (-12.6%), as well as bell peppers (-9.4%).

In January 2022, the main inflationary factor in section I. “Food and non-alcoholic beverages” was the increase in prices for fruits and vegetables.

Due to the seasonal increase in prices for goods in this group, the consolidated CPI for the month increased by 0.4 p.p.

A significant contribution was also made price changes for cereals and cereal products (0.07

p.p.), sugar, confectionery, and desserts (0.02 p.p.), milk, dairy products and eggs (0.02 p.p.). The total contribution of other groups was 0.04 p.p.

In this case the limiting factor was the decline in prices for meat products, due to which the consolidated CPI was lower by 0.04 p.p.

The most significant contribution to the growth of the consolidated CPI from the groups of section I. "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" in January 2022 was made by price changes for fruits and vegetables, meat, oil and fat products, as well as for grain crops and cereal products. The total contribution of the listed groups reached 4.08 p.p.

In January 2022, alcoholic beverages became more expensive by 0.9% over the month, including vodka and beer - by 1.0%, cognac - by 0.7%, wine - by 0.5%.

Tobacco products over the same period rose in price by 0.5%, including cigarettes - by 0.6%, other tobacco products - by 0.4%.

Compared to January 2021, alcoholic beverages increased in price by 10.5%, including vodka - by 12.1%, cognac - by 10.4%, wine - by 7.4%, beer - by 7.2%.

Tobacco products, compared with the level of January 2021, became more expensive by 12.5%, including cigarettes - by 12.5%, other tobacco products - by 12.4%.

Clothes for the first month of the year went up by 0.8%, shoes - by 0.9%. At the same time, prices for shoe cleaning, repair and rental services increased more than others (1.7%). In annual terms, clothes became more expensive by 6.2%, shoes - by 5.1%. The leaders in terms of price growth in annual terms are also services for cleaning, repairing and renting shoes (13.5%).

Against the background of a general increase in prices for materials for the maintenance and repair of housing in January 2022, a decrease was recorded for cement (-1.3%). In addition, in two regions there was an increase in tariffs for the removal of household waste (in Kashkadarya region - by 3.7%, in Samarkand region - by 16.2%). Since January, the payment for hot water supply (14.6%) and heating (20.1%) in Tashkent region has also increased.

Of the main observed groups of goods and services in the healthcare sector in January 2021, the most significant increase in prices was recorded for dental services (2.4%).

Over the month, outpatient medical and rehabilitation services became more expensive by 1.3%, inpatient services - by 0.9%.

Services of medical laboratories for the month rose by 1.8%, for diagnostic imaging - by 1.7%.

The leadership in terms of price growth in annual terms belongs to dental services (12.2%).

In January 2022, for the month, gasoline decreased in price by 3.5%, propane - by 8.5%. Lubricants, on the contrary, went up by 0.7%.

Of the services included in the section, the leadership in terms of price growth belongs to air transport (2.0% per month). In addition, the cost of maintenance and repair of vehicles has risen significantly (1.9%).

The undisputed leader in terms of price growth in annual terms in the "Transport" section is gasoline, which, relative to the beginning of 2021, has become 1.5 times more expensive.

In January 2022, the price increase in this section belongs to services for the repair of information and communication equipment (1.5% per month). During this period, mobile telephone equipment became more expensive by 0.7%, equipment for receiving and reproducing sound and images - by 0.4%.

Services for the repair of information and communication equipment also took the lead in price growth compared to January 2021 (16.0%).

The beginning of the year was traditionally marked by an increase in prices for newspapers and periodicals, which increased in price by 23.2% on average per month.

Horticulture products, plants, seeds and flowers have become more expensive by 3.0% on average. In January of this year, museum services rose in price by 7.2%, theaters - by 3.0%, concert halls - by 1.3%.

The undisputed leaders in terms of price growth in annual terms for January 2022 among the goods and services in this section are newspapers and periodicals, which, compared with the beginning of 2021, have become more expensive by 25.9%.

In the field of paid education, in January 2022, an increase in the cost of education in foreign language courses and other training courses (0.6%) was noted over the month.

Services of tutors for a month became more expensive on average in the republic by 0.4%.

Attendance by children of non-state (private) preschool educational organizations became more expensive by 0.7%.

The leaders in terms of annual price growth in January 2022 were services provided by state educational organizations in the field of preschool education (15.0%).

Ready-made food in cafes, canteens and fast food establishments for the first month of the year, on average, became more expensive by 1.9%. Hotel services rose in price by 1.2% over the month. The leaders in terms of price growth for the month were the services of recreation centers, campsites and similar hotel services, which in January of this year added 11.6% in price.

The championship in terms of price growth in annual terms for January 2022 belongs to the services of fast food establishments.

Compared to January 2021, they became more expensive by 18.1%.

The cost of insurance services remained stable in January 2022.

In the field of financial services, in January 2022, against the background of price stability of their main types, an increase in fees for money transfers (0.1%) was registered, which is associated with a change in the exchange rate of the national currency against the US dollar.

At the same time, insurance services have not changed in annual terms. Financial services have become more expensive by only 0.8%.

In January 2022, among the main groups of goods and services in this section, hairdressing services (2.0%) and personal service establishments (1.2%) again became leaders in terms of price growth for the month.

Making a photocopy per month became more expensive by 1.1%, watch repair - by 0.8%, travel goods, products for young children and other personal items - by 0.5%, other appliances, products and personal products - by 0.6%.

In annual terms, the top three in terms of price growth, relative to January 2022, included hairdressing services (25.5%), legal services (20.7%) and photocopying (17.6%).

In January 2022, the dominance of food inflation manifested itself both in the structure of the consolidated CPI for the month and in annual terms. The contribution of food and non-alcoholic beverages to the growth of the consolidated indicator for the month amounted to 0.51 percentage points, in annual terms it reached 5.20 percentage points.