Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In August 2022, the average price level in the consumer market increased by 0.5%, the State Statistics Committee said in a statement.

In January-August 2022, the increase in prices in the consumer sector reached 7.0% with an average monthly value of 0.8%.

In annual terms (relative to August 2021), the increase in consumer prices amounted to 12.3%.

The leader in price growth for the month in August 2022 was food products, which increased in price by 0.7% on average per month.

Non-food products and paid services to the population increased in price by 0.4% over the month.

The increase in food prices in the first eight months of 2022 reached 8,5%, becoming the highest indicator for this period in the last three years

Non-food products during January-August 2022 increased in price by 7,2%.

The increase in prices for paid services to the population was significantly lower and amounted to 4,0%.

Food products retain their leadership in price increases in annual terms. Thus, in August of this year, compared to August last year, they increased in price by 16,3%. Non-food products and paid services over the same period, respectively, became more expensive by 10,9% and 7,1%.

According to calculations, the most significant impact on the growth of the short-term consolidated CPI in August of this year was the rise in prices for food products. Due to price changes for goods in this group, the consolidated CPI for the month increased by 0,29 p.p.

At the same time, the inflationary contribution of non-food products reached 0,14 p.p., which is lower than in August 2021 and 2020.

The impact of price changes on services was less significant and amounted to 0,09 p.p., which is comparable to the same indicator for August 2020 and 0,05 points higher than in August 2021.

Thus, the share of food products accounted for 55,8%, non-food products – 26,9%, services – 7,3% of the total impact.

In August this year, food products retained their dominant position in terms of contribution to the growth of the consolidated CPI compared to December of the previous year. They accounted for over 51% of the total influence. Thus, due to the increase in prices for food products, the consolidated CPI for January-August 2022 increased by 3,58 p.p., while non-food products accounted for 2,49 p.p. (35,7%), services – 0,91 p.p. (13,0%).

It is noteworthy that in January-August 2021 and 2020, the contribution of food and non-food products was significantly lower, while the contribution of price changes for services was close to the level of January-August of the current year.

In the structure of the annual consolidated CPI for August 2022, the dominance of food inflation was even more pronounced. Due to the increase in food prices, the consolidated CPI in annual terms increased by 6,88 p.p., which is 56% of the total increase.

The increase in prices for non-food products was reflected in the increase in CPI for August 2022 compared to August 2021 by 3,77 p.p., which is 30,7% of the total contribution.

The share of services accounted for only 13,3% of the total impact, and the consolidated indicator in annual terms due to the growth in prices for them became higher by 1,64 p.p.

In August 2022, of the main sections of COICOP 2018 Rep. of Uzbekistan, section XI “Restaurants and hotel services” (2,0%) became the leader in terms of price growth for the month. Compared to December 2021, prices increased more than others in sections XI. "Restaurants and hotel services" (11,9%) and IX. “Recreation, sports and culture” (10,3%). The leaders in price growth in annual terms are restaurant services and hotel services (19,5%).

The seasonal decline in prices for fruits and vegetables in August this year was less pronounced than in the previous month. Thus, fruits and nuts became cheaper by 2.2% over the month, vegetables, tubes and legumes - by 0.5%.

In the rest of the groups included in section I. "Food and non-alcoholic beverages", in August of this year, an increase in prices was recorded for the month. The most significant was for cereals and cereals (1.6%), as well as for sugar, confectionery and desserts (1.3%).

The top three in terms of price growth in January-August 2022 included cereals (24.3%), sugar, confectionery and desserts (21.6%) and oil and fat products (10.7%).

A decrease in prices during this period was noted only for fruits and vegetables (within 5.9- 7.1%), due to the influence of seasonality

In August 2022, the leading positions in terms of price growth in annual terms among the groups of section I. "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" were occupied by cereals (30.1%), sugar, confectionery and desserts (29.5%), dairy products and eggs (15.5%), as well as vegetables, tubers and legumes (15.2%).

Of the main food products (excluding fruits and vegetables) are significantly higher than the average for food products, the increase in prices per month in August 2022 was for long-grain (4.7%) and roundgrain (3.2%) rice, margarine (3.2%), chopped rice (2.8%), bread from flour of the highest (2.4%) and first (1.6%) grades, refined sugar (1.6%), lamb and granulated sugar (1.2%). The leading positions in price growth relative to the end of 2021 belong to granulated sugar and bread made from wheat flour of the 1st grade (1.5 times). The same goods are leading in terms of price growth in annual terms (growth in prices, respectively, by 1.6 and 1.5 times).

The seasonal factor continues to have a decisive influence on the decline in the average level of prices for fruits and vegetables. In August 2022, grapes fell in price more than others in a month (-12.6%), onions (-10.0%) and peaches (-8.4%). The top three in terms of price growth for the month included tomatoes (18.4%), greens (12.1%) and cucumbers (10.6%).

In August 2022, compared to December 2021, prices decreased most significantly for eggplants (-63.1%), cucumbers (-60.4%) and tomatoes (-55.5%). Onion, with a significant margin, holds the lead in price growth in January-August 2022, having become more expensive by 1.9 times compared to the end of last year.

The average level of prices for fruits and vegetables in August 2022 was higher than in August last year. Thus, fruits and nuts became more expensive in annual terms by 2.3%, vegetables, tubers and legumes - by 15.2%. The leadership in terms of price growth in annual terms is held by onions (by 2.7 times), in terms of reduction - by carrots (-34.6%).

The key inflationary factor in August this year was the increase in prices for grain crops and cereals (+0.13 p.p.), meat products (+0.09 p.p.) and sugar, confectionery and desserts (+0.04 p.p.). The constraining factor was the seasonal decline in prices for fruits and vegetables, due to which the short-term composite indicator fell by 0.11 percentage points. The contribution of other groups included in the section was less significant and totaled +0.09 p.p.

According to calculations, one of the key inflationary factors that influenced the growth of the consolidated indicator for January-August 2022 was the increase in prices for grain crops and cereal products. Due to the increase in prices for goods in this group, the consolidated CPI for January-August 2022 increased by 1.99 p.p. A significant contribution was made by price changes for sugar, confectionery and desserts (+0.62 p.p.), meat (+0.46 p.p.) and oil and fat (+0.31 p.p.) products. Due to the decrease in prices for fruits and vegetables, the consolidated indicator decreased by 0.58 p.p. by December 2021.

In August 2022, from the goods of section I. "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" the most significant contribution to the growth of the consolidated CPI in annual terms was made by price changes for cereals and cereal products. Due to the increase in prices for goods of this group, the consolidated CPI in annual terms became higher by 2.47 p.p. (38.1% of the total impact of the increase in prices for food and nonalcoholic beverages, or about 20% of the total impact of the observed goods and services).

In August 2022, alcoholic beverages became more expensive by 1.7% over the month, including beer - by 2.0%, vodka - by 1.7%, cognac - by 1.3%, wine - by 1.1%. Tobacco products rose in price by 1.1% over the month, including cigarettes - by 1.2%, other tobacco products - by 0.8%.

Compared to December 2021, alcoholic beverages increased in price by 6.7%, including vodka - by 7.5%, beer - by 6.8%, wine - by 4.7%, cognac - by 4.1%. Since the beginning of 2022, tobacco products have become more expensive by 5.7%, including cigarettes - by 5.5%, other tobacco products - by 6.1%.

In annual terms, alcoholic beverages are leading in terms of price growth (12.1%), while tobacco products have become more expensive by 7.7%.

In August of this year, against the backdrop of price stability in the field of public services, an increase in prices for materials and services for the maintenance and repair of residential premises was recorded, which became more expensive over the month, respectively, by 0.4% and 0.8%.

Rental housing for the month has risen in price by 0.4%. The leaders in price growth both in January-August 2022 and in annual terms were services for the maintenance, repair and protection of residential premises (price growth, respectively, by 7.6% and 13.5%).

In August 2022, dental services increased in price by 1.1% for the month, services for diagnostic imaging and medical laboratories, as well as medicines and medical products - by 0.7%, hospital services and auxiliary products for vision - by 0.5%.

In terms of price growth relative to the end of last year, dental services are in the lead (12.4%). This type of service also holds the lead in terms of price growth in annual terms (17.0%).

From the goods and services section "Transport" in August this year, the leaders in terms of price growth for the month were air passenger transport services, which on average rose by 2.1%. Fares in longdistance trains over the same period became more expensive by 1.4%.

Propane is the leader in price growth compared to December last year (17.8%). The championship in terms of price growth in annual terms belongs to gasoline, which, compared to August 2021, has become more expensive by 34.8%.

The most significant increase over the month in the section "Information and Communications" prices increased for services for the repair of information and communication equipment (1.0%). This type of service also leads in terms of price growth compared to the end of last year (8.4%) and in annual terms (15.7%).

In August 2022, the price of stationery and drawing goods increased by 3.4% on average across the republic. Services in the field of photography (1.3%) and parks (1.1%). The leaders in terms of price growth in JanuaryAugust 2022 included stationery and drawing goods (1.3 times), as well as newspapers and periodicals (23.2%). The same two groups of goods occupy leading positions in terms of price growth in annual terms, becoming more expensive, respectively, by 35.8% and 24.3%.

In the field of preschool education, in August of this year, an increase in the amount of parental fees for attending private kindergartens by children was recorded (by an average of 1.0% in the republic). Studying at educational courses for a month became more expensive by 1.1%. Services of tutors have risen in price by 0.8%. The leading positions in terms of price growth in JanuaryAugust 2022 belong to services for training in courses (6.9%) and tutors (4.0%). The top three in terms of price growth in annual terms included training courses (15.8%), tuition fees at public universities on a contract basis (11.1%) and tutoring services (10.3%).

Ready-made food in cafes, canteens and fast food establishments in August of this year rose in the range of 2.1-2.3%, which is higher than the average monthly price increase in this group in January-August 2022 (1.4%). Hotel services rose in price by 0.5% over the month. Relative to the end of last year, the services of recreation centers (15.3%) and fast food establishments (13.0%) have risen most significantly in the section. Leadership in price growth by August last year belongs to the services of recreation centers and similar hotel services (16.2%).

The cost of insurance services in August this year did not change both monthly and in annual terms. Among financial services in August of this year, only a decrease in the amount of fees for money transfers (-0.4%) was noted, which was due to a change in the exchange rate of the national currency against the US dollar. Since the beginning of 2022, the fee for money transfer services through electronic payment systems has increased by 17.7%, services of banking institutions - by 6.6%, money transfers - by 0.6%. Leadership in price growth in annual terms is held by money transfer services through electronic payment systems (17.7%).

In August 2022, among the goods and services in this section, hairdressing and photocopying services (1.6% each) shared the championship in terms of price growth for the month. Since the beginning of the current year, the highest increase in prices has been noted for photocopying services (25.5%). The same type of service is leading in terms of price growth in annual terms (35.2%).