Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In February 2021, goods and services in the consumer market in Uzbekistan increased on average by 0.6%. For the first two months of this year, the increase in prices for them amounted to 1.7% with an average monthly value of 0.8%. In annual terms, the CPI growth reached 11.4%. This was reported by the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan.

In February 2020, goods and services became more expensive by 0.8% on average per month. Since the beginning of the year, the consolidated CPI has grown by 1.4% with an average monthly value of 0.7%. The annual consolidated CPI reached 13.5% in February 2020.

The short-term consolidated CPI in February 2021 was 0.2 points lower than in February last year, and 1 point lower than in February 2019. The consolidated CPI in annual terms (to the corresponding month of the previous year) for February 2021 was 2.1 points lower than in the same periods in 2020 and 2019. This indicator for January-February 2021 (compared to December of the previous year) was 0.3 points higher and 1.4 points lower than in the corresponding periods of 2020 and 2019.

The CPI growth for food products in February this year amounted to 0.6% for the month, which is 0.7 and 1.4 points lower than in February 2020 and 2019. The growth in the annual CPI in this group in February 2021 was at the level of 14.6%. This is 1.2 points lower than last year and 0.5 points lower than in February 2019. In January-February 2021, food prices increased by 1.8%, which is 0.6 points lower than in the corresponding period of 2020, and 3.1 points lower than in January-February 2019.

The increase in the CPI for non-food products in February made up 0.6% over the month. In February last year, this indicator had a similar value, and in February 2019 it was 0.9 points higher than in February this year. The growth in the annual CPI in this group in February 2021 was at the level of 9.1%, which is 0.8 points lower than the indicator of the previous year, and 1.6 points lower than in February 2019. Relative to December 2020, non-food products became more expensive by 1.1%, which is 0.3 points higher than the increase in prices for this group in January-February 2020, and 0.9 points lower than in January-February 2019.

In February 2021, services rose in price by 0.8% over the month. This is 0.5 points higher than in February last year. In February 2019, the increase in the cost of services, as in the current year, was 0.8%. The annual CPI in this group in February 2021 was 8.8%. This is 5.8 points lower than last year and 6.1 points lower than in February 2019. Over the past two months of this year, services have become more expensive by 2.2%, which is 1.6 and 0.9 points higher than the increase in prices for this group, respectively, in January-February 2020 and 2019.

As for the structure of growth in the short-term consolidated CPI for February 2021, due to the growth in food prices, it increased by 0.24 percentage points. The increase in prices for non-food products and paid services to the population added to the consolidated CPI by 0.20 percentage points. Thus, the share of the impact of food products accounted for 37.4%, non-food products and paid services - 31.3% each of the total impact of rising prices for goods and services.

In the structure of the consolidated CPI in annual terms for February 2021, the leadership belongs to food products, the growth of prices for which increased this indicator by 6.19 p.p. (54.4% of the total impact of goods and services). The dominance of food inflation was also characteristic of the annual rate in February 2020 and 2019.

As in January-February of the two previous years, the contribution of food inflation to the growth of the consolidated CPI for February 2021 to December 2020 was predominant. Due to the growth in prices for food products, the aggregate indicator increased by 0.8 percentage points, which is 46.7% of the total impact of goods and services.

Fruits and nuts (1.7%), butter and fats (1.4%), sugar, confectionery, desserts, as well as vegetables, tubers, plantains, legumes (0.8%), etc. are the leaders in the growth of prices in February this year for food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Of the fruit and vegetable products, the most significant increase in prices in February 2021 was for bell peppers (5.9%) and pumpkin (4.7%). The largest decrease in prices for the month in this group was recorded for turnips (-3.1%) and carrots (-2.3%). Since the beginning of the year, prices for bell peppers (15.0%) and grapes (11.4%) have risen more than others, tangerines (-4.8%) and oranges (-5.2%) have fallen in price. In annual terms, the leader in terms of price growth was lemons (2.1 times), and in terms of decline - bell peppers (-50.7%).

In February 2021, among the main food products over the month, the most significant rise in price was for poultry meat (2.9-3.3%), sunflower (2.5%) and butter (1.2%) butter, sand sugar (1.3%). Eggs, on the contrary, became cheaper by 5.5% over the month, rice and rice cuts - by 0.7-1.8%, and prices for beef and lamb did not change significantly. In relation to February 2020, the leading positions belong to buckwheat (1.5 times), sunflower oil (1.4 times), cottonseed oil and eggs (1.3 times).

Among the main groups of foodstuffs and non-alcoholic beverages, the leadership in price growth for January-February 2021 belongs to fruits and vegetables. In annual terms, oil and fats, as well as meat products have become significantly more expensive

One of the key inflationary factors in February 2021 was the seasonal increase in prices for fruits and vegetables. Due to the growth in prices for fruits, nuts, vegetables, tubers, plantains and legumes, the consolidated CPI for the month increased by 0.11 percentage points. (50% of the total impact of rising prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages).

A significant contribution was also made by the increase in prices for meat (0.05 pp, 22.7%) and fat and oil (0.04 pp, 18.2%) products.

Tobacco products in February of this year on average per month added in price by 4.9% (since the beginning of the year by 5.1%), alcoholic products - by 0.9% (1.7%). By the level of February 2020, cigarettes have become more expensive by 17.2%, alcohol - by 8.9%.

CPI for the month for the section "Housing services, water, electricity, gas and other fuels" in February 2021 was influenced by the increase in prices for materials (1.1%) and services (0.8%) for the maintenance and repair of residential premises. At the same time, the main building materials for the month added in price from 0.2% (linoleum) to 2.5% (cement). Against this background, tariffs for water and electricity supply services did not change significantly over the month. Since the beginning of the year, materials for the maintenance of residential premises have risen in price by 1.5% (12.1% against February 2020), services for the maintenance and repair of housing - by 1.0% (15.7%), payments for cold water supply and sewerage - 1.6 times (1.9 times), maintenance in apartment buildings - by 1.3% (3.2%), waste collection - by 0.7% (2.8%).

Of the goods and services in this section, for the second month in a row, disinfection and pest extermination services are leading in terms of price increases (7.6%). Also higher than the average for the section, prices increased for services in sewing textiles used in households (1.4%), household items, pile carpets and rugs (1.0%), as well as furniture (0.9%). Leadership in price growth in January-February 2021 belongs to services for disinfection and pest control (12.4%), in annual terms - services for washing and cleaning carpets and rugs (18.8%).

Of the main types of goods and services observed in the healthcare sector in February 2021, the cost of inpatient treatment and rehabilitation services (3.4%), medical laboratory services (2.5%), and diagnostic imaging (2.0%), as well as other preventive care services (1.1%). Along with this, a decrease in prices for medical masks and gloves (on average by 3.8%) was recorded in a number of regions. Since the beginning of the year, more significant growth in prices was noted for inpatient treatment services (4.4%), and in annual terms - for services in diagnostic imaging and medical laboratories (17.1%).

In February 2021, the CPI in the "Transport" section was largely formed under the influence of rising prices for methane (4.8%) and gasoline (2.7%), vehicle maintenance and repair services (1.5%), transportation of goods (0.8%), as well as for road passenger transport services (0.9%). Against this background, a decline in propane prices was noted (-7.9%). In January-February 2021, the most pronounced growth in prices was for methane (5.0%) and gasoline (4.9%), and in annual terms - for air passenger transport services, as well as for propane (1.3 times).

In February of this year, in the section "Information and Communication", an increase in prices was noted for equipment for receiving, recording and reproducing sound and images (1.1%), equipment for information processing (0.7%), as well as for complex telecommunication services (3.6%) and services for the repair of information and communication equipment (0.9%). In the first two months of 2021, peripheral equipment and its consumable components became more expensive by 1.5%, equipment for receiving, recording and reproducing sound and images, repair and rental services for information and communication equipment - by 1.6%, complex telecommunications services - by 3.6%, mobile telephone equipment - by 0.5%. In annual terms, the leader in price growth belongs to services for the repair of information and communication equipment (16.9%).

In February of this year, the main increase in prices in the section "Recreation, Sports and Culture" was recorded for veterinary services (8.7%). An increase in prices was also noted for the services of zoos (7.1%, including in Surkhandarya region - 1.5 times), in the field of photography (3.5%), and for organizing sports events (1.7%). In January February, the highest price increases were registered for magazines (15.3%), and in annual terms - for textbook rental services (36.0%).

In February, a number of regions registered an increase in prices for the services of non-state preschool educational organizations (hereinafter - ECE). The most significant rise in prices for this service was in Andijan region (3.2%), while in the country as a whole, the price increase was 0.3%. In addition, tutoring services became more expensive by 2.2% per month, and tuition in language and similar courses - by 1.2%. Since the beginning of the year, tutoring services have risen in price by 2.2%, training on courses - by 1.9%, services of non-state preschool educational institutions - by 0.3%. The leader in the growth of prices on an annualized basis is the services of state preschool institutions (15.2%).

In February 2021, the cost of food and beverage services increased by an average of 1.0%. The range of price increases ranged from 0.9% (cafes) to 1.2% (other cafeterias, canteens and snack bars). During this period, services of recreation centers have become more expensive by an average of 2.4%.

The leader in price growth both in January-February 2021 and in annual terms is the services of recreation centers (17.0% and 24.4%, respectively). Accommodation in hotels increased by 1.4% on average.

Banking services for the month and since the beginning of the year have risen in price by 2.6%, in annual terms - by 1.3%.

Fees for money transfers in February 2021 increased by 0.6%, from the beginning of the year - by 0.7%, which is due to the growth of the US dollar against the soum. Compared to February 2020, this type of service has become more expensive by 10.3%.

Among household goods and services, for the second month in a row, hairdressing services are in the lead in terms of monthly price increases (3.2%). Over the month, watch repair services have become more expensive by 1.1%, jewelry, watches and similar watches - by 0.6%, watch repair services - by 1.5%, other devices, products and personal goods - on average by 0.7%. Among other services, the price of legal services increased significantly (9.5%). This is due to the rise in the cost of those types of services, the cost of which is determined on the basis of the basic evaluated value (BRV).

In general, in January February 2021, the leading position in price growth belongs to legal services (9.5%), and in annual terms - to hairdressing services (20.7%).

Leadership in terms of influence on the growth of the short-term consolidated CPI for February 2021 belongs to food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.22 p.p., or 34.9% of the total influence). In addition, a significant contribution was made by price changes in the transport sector (0.09 percentage points, or 14.3%), health care, as well as for household and other miscellaneous goods and services (0.06 percentage points, or 9.5%).

In the structure of the consolidated CPI for February 2021 to December 2020, the most significant share of the contribution falls on food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.73 percentage points, or 44.1% of the total impact of goods and services).

The dominance of the impact of rising prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages also manifested itself in the structure of the annual consolidated CPI. These goods accounted for 51.4% of the total impact of goods and services.