Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In February 2019, prices for goods and services in the consumer market of Uzbekistan increased on average by 1.6%. This was reported by the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan.

Products for the month went up by 1.8%, including food - by 2.0%, non-food - by 1.5%. Services have become more expensive by 0.8%.

In February 2018, within a month, prices for goods increased by 1.2%, services - by 0.7%. Food products became more expensive by 1.1%, non-food goods - by 1.3%.

Analysis of the structure of the impact of price changes for the month showed that in February 2019, the main contribution to the growth of the composite consumer price index, taking into account the proportion of each enlarged group, made price changes for food products (0.9 percentage points, hereinafter PP).

In February 2018, the contribution of food price growth also prevailed, but in a less pronounced form (0.5 pp vs. 0.4 pp non-food items and 0.2 pp services).

In a percentage, the contribution of the increase in food prices to the increase in the consolidated CPI for the month amounted to 55.7% against 44.3% in February 2018. The specific contribution of price increases for non-food products and paid services to the population in February 2019 was lower than in February 2018.

A similar situation was shown by the analysis of the structure of the impact of changes in consumer prices for the main groups on the growth of the consolidated CPI relative to December of the previous year. The contribution of the rise in prices for food products cumulatively for January-February 2019 was 68.5% (versus 52.6% in January-February 2018), non-food products - 22.2% (against 34.2%), services - 9,3% (vs. 13.2%).

As noted above, food products rose in price by 2.0% over the month, which ensured a CPI increase of 0.9 percentage points.

In February 2019, the rise in food prices for the month was lower than in January 2019 (2.0% versus 2.8%). The January increase in prices for goods of this group ensured CPI growth for the month by 1.2 percentage points, thus the impact of the rise in food prices on the indicator of the consolidated CPI for February was 0.3 percentage points lower.

Of the main food products, the leadership in the growth of prices belongs to fruit and vegetable products, which in a month became more expensive by 4.0%.

The second position on the rise in prices is taken by public catering, where the prices for the second month in a row grow by more than 3% (January - 3.4%, February - 3.3%).

The top three leaders in terms of price growth in February 2019 were dairy products, which averaged a monthly increase of 3.2%.

Most of all, prices for dairy products increased in Surkhandarya and Jizzakh regions (4.0%), the rise in prices in Namangan region was minimal (1.9%).

However, according to the degree of influence on the CPI aggregate indicator, taking into account the specific weight of each group of goods, the top three include fruits and vegetables (0.32 pp), meat products (0.16 pp) and dairy products (0.11 pp).

Of the meat products for the month, sausages and smoked meats became the most significant, while poultry meat, on the contrary, somewhat cheaper.

The most significant beef (except for boneless meat) went up in Samarkand region (2.6%), boneless beef - in Khorezm region (1.3%).

Boiled sausage added the most in price in Khorezm region (8.8%), half-smoked sausage in Samarkand region (8.5%).

In the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Jizzakh, Navoi, Ferghana regions and Tashkent, a decrease in prices for poultry meat was recorded (except for chicken legs).

Of the other observed types of food products, alcoholic beverages rose in price significantly in February of this year (2.3%).

The bread products, including cereals and legumes, pasta increased by 2.4% over the month, mash by 2.3%, rice by 1.9%, flat breads by 0.5%, wheat flour by 0, four%.

In five regions of the republic, there was a decrease in prices for eggs (in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Jizzakh, Navoi, Samarkand and Ferghana regions). On average in the republic, the price reduction was 0.2%.

In terms of price growth relative to December 2018, leadership belongs to fruit and vegetable products (12.6%), public catering (6.9%), dairy products (6.5%) and alcoholic beverages (6.0%).

In annual terms (February 2019 by February 2018) higher than other food product groups, there was a rise in prices for bread products (28.3%), meat products (19.5%), public catering (18.7%), dairy products (15.6%).

The range of price changes for the specified periods for individual products of these groups was more significant. Thus, compared to February 2018, rice grew by more than 1.5 times (by 56.2%), almost by 1.2 times - beef (except boneless) and lamb (by 22.4% and 19.6%, respectively), by 16.8% - boneless beef. Sugar prices in February 2019 were 6.3% lower than in the corresponding month of 2018.

A 1.5% increase in prices for non-food products in February 2019 resulted in a 0.5 pp increase in the consolidated CPI.

For two months from the beginning of the year, non-food products have risen in price by 2.0%. In annual terms (February 2019 by February 2018), the products of this group on average became more expensive by 10.7%.

Of non-food products, the main increase in prices was recorded for communications (9.5%), food products (5.9%), basic household goods and electrical appliances (5.8%), detergents and cleaning products (5.7%), spare parts for cars (2.9%), kitchen utensils and appliances (2.2%), household textiles (2.1%), clothes (1.4%), shoes (1.0%).

An important key factor influencing the rise in prices for the main types of non-food items (clothing, footwear, household appliances, communications equipment, foodstuffs, spare parts for cars, etc.) was the introduction of updated import customs duties stipulated by Presidential Decree No. PP- 4086 of December 26, 2018 “On the forecast of the main macroeconomic indicators and parameters of the State Budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2019 and budget guidelines for 2020–2021,” as well as a change in the position of the national currency.

According to the degree of influence on the consolidated CPI for February 2019 to the previous month, taking into account the share of each group, the primacy belongs to the main household goods and electrical appliances (impact on the growth of the consolidated CPI is 0.10 pp).

Fuel prices for cars for the month decreased by 0.1%. Against the background of the stability of prices for gasoline and methane, propane has become cheaper by 1.0%.

Among other groups of non-food products, the prices of printed products (16.9%), communications (10.1%), detergents and cleaning products (6.4%), basic household goods and electrical appliances (6 , 3%), cultural goods (6.2%).

Tariffs for services for the population in February 2019 increased by 0.8%, which led to an increase in the consolidated CPI for the month by 0.2 percentage points.

The increase in costs of business entities has led to an increase in tariffs for basic types of personal services. The cost of repairing household appliances (8.1%), repair and maintenance of vehicles (7.6%), baths and showers (4.5%), hairdressing and beauty salons (2.4%) rose in price.

Next in line with the growth of tariffs for February 2019, rest services (1.9%) and sports (1.4%) follow.

The increase in the cost of recreation services was registered in Surkhandarya (by 11.3%), Bukhara (by 8.3%), Andijan (by 2.8%), Kashkadarya (by 2.4%), Namangan (by 1.4% ) and Syrdarya (1.0%) regions.

Sports services for the month became more expensive in Andijan (by 7.1%), Khorezm (by 6.7%) and Namangan (by 3.9%) regions.

According to the degree of influence on the CPI aggregate indicator for February 2019, leadership also belongs to household services (0.12 pp). This is followed by medical services (0.02 pp), services in the field of housing and utilities and passenger transport (0.01 pp).

For the month, tariffs for passenger transport services increased by 0.2%.

The fare in taxis increased in Jizzakh (by 13.2%) and Khorezm (by 2.3%) regions, and in the fixed-route taxi — in Tashkent (by 4.2%). The fare in the intercity bus became more expensive in Navoi region (by 6.0%).

Tickets for long-distance trains and flights for the observed directions have become cheaper due to changes in foreign exchange rates.

The most significant in January-February 2019 was the rise in recreation services (6.1%), compared to February 2018 - housing services (24.9%).