Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In March 2024, the consolidated CPI in Uzbekistan was 100.7%. In the first quarter of 2024, this figure reached 101.7%, the Statistics Agency of Uzbekistan said. 

In annual terms (by March 2023), the consolidated CPI was fixed at 108.0%.

In March 2024, the CPI for goods for the month amounted to 100.7%, by December 2023 – 101.4%. In annual terms, this indicator has developed at the level of 107.5%.

The short-term CPI for food products in March 2024 was 100.8%. For non-food products, it reached 100.5%, and for paid services to the population – 100.7%. The CPI for JanuaryMarch 2024 for food products was fixed at 101.7%, non-food products - 101.1%, services – 102.3%. The CPI for March 2024 in annual growth for food products was at the level of 107.8%, non-food products - 107.2%, services - 109.5%.

Excluding changes in prices for fruits and vegetables, the short-term consolidated CPI for March 2024 amounted to 100.50% (against 100.7% taking into account these changes). By the level of December 2023, this indicator was fixed at 101.1%, March 2023 – 107.7%.

In the structure of growth in the short-term CPI for March 2024, the emphasis of influence again shifted towards price changes for food products, the share of which reached 50.7%. The impact of changes in prices for food products was predominant among the three groups in the structure of growth in the consolidated CPI both for January-March 2024 and for March 2024 in annual terms.

In March 2024, the range of short-term CPI by section was from 100.00% (Sections X. Educational Services and XII. Insurance and Financial Services) to 101.8% (Section VI. Health Care).

The lowest CPI for the first quarter of 2024 was recorded for services in the field of insurance and finance (100.0%), the highest – in the field of healthcare (103.2%).

With the exception of sections II. “Alcoholic drinks and tobacco products”, IV. “Housing services, water, electricity, gas and other fuels” and VII. "Transport" and X. "Educational Services", the annual CPI for March 2024 in all sections was lower than the same indicator for 2023.

The range of fluctuations in the short-term CPI for March 2024 by groups of section I. “Food and non-alcoholic drinks” ranged from 99.3% to 104.0%. Short-term CPI below 100.0% for the month was recorded in the groups “Oils and fats” (99.30%) and “Meat products” (99.8%). With the exception of the Fish and Other Seafood and NonAlcoholic Drinks groups, the short-term CPI value for March 2024 in the remaining Section I groups was lower than the March 2023 value. The increase in prices for fruits and vegetables, as well as fish and other seafood products, is largely due to the influence of seasonal factors.

The CPI values for the main groups included in section I. “Food and nonalcoholic drinks” for January-March 2024 ranged from 97.6% (group “Oils and fats”) to 110.3% (group “Vegetables, tubers and legumes”). The average price level for meat and oil and fat products in March 2024 was lower than in December 2023. With the exception of the groups “Readymade food and other food products”, “Soft drinks”, the CPI value for the first quarter of 2024 was lower than the same indicator for the corresponding period in 2023. The influence of the seasonal factor, traditional for the first quarter, became decisive for the value of the CPI for fruits and vegetables, where the price increase since the beginning of the current year was more pronounced than in other groups

In March 2024, the annual CPI by Title I group ranged from 89.5% (Oils and Fats) to 134.4% (Fruits and Nuts). With the exception of the Fruits and Nuts group, the annual CPI value in March 2024 was lower than that of the corresponding month in 2023.

In March of this year, there was a decrease in prices for such types of fruits and vegetables as oranges, tangerines and bananas. Along with this, prices for fruits and vegetables such as bell peppers, cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, lemons, pomegranates, etc. have increased.

In March 2024, the most significant contribution to the growth of the shortterm consolidated CPI among the goods of Section I. “Food and non-alcoholic drinks” was made by price changes for fruits and vegetables (total +0.26 percentage points). The restraining factor was the decline in prices for oil and fat and meat products (total -0.04 percentage points).

Of the goods included in Section I, changes in prices for fruits and vegetables influenced the growth of the consolidated CPI for March 2024 to December 2023 more significantly than others (total contribution of +0.68 percentage points). The moderating effect was exerted by the decline in prices for oil and fat and meat products (total -0.10 percentage points). The most significant contribution to the growth of the consolidated CPI for March 2024 in annual terms was made by price changes for grain crops and cereal products, meat products, fruits and nuts (+3.34 percentage points). The downward effect was had by a decrease in prices in the groups “Oils and fats” and “Vegetables, tubers and legumes”, due to which the consolidated indicator by March 2023 became lower by 0.66 percentage points.

In March 2024, fluctuations in the short-term CPI in section II. "Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products" ranged from 100.2% (other tobacco products) to 101.3% (wine). The CPI for March 2024 to December 2023 for alcohol and tobacco products ranged from 101.0% (other tobacco products) to 102.6% (cigarettes).The annual CPI ranged from 107.4% (beer) to 112.5% (tobacco products).

The range of short-term CPI in March 2024 in section III. "Clothes and shoes" ranged from 98.8% (men’s socks) to 103.9% (T-shirts for boys). The lower limit of the CPI for January-March 2024 for goods and services of section III is fixed at 98.5% (women’s fur hats), the upper limit is 104.2% (T–shirts for boys). By March 2023, the CPI for Section III goods and services ranged from 103.8% (winter jacket for girls) to 115.9% (dry cleaning services).

In March 2024, an increase in tariffs for household waste removal services in the Jizzakh region was fixed, which reflected an increase in the short-term CPI for the republic for this type of service by 2.5%.. The CPI for the services of locksmiths, plumbers, electricians and painters for the month ranged from 100.2% to 101.1%. The CPI for the first quarter of 2024 for goods and services of section IV ranged from 96.3% (cement) to 132.4% (garbage collection fee), annual – from 95.2% (cement) to 173.5% (painting work).

Short-term CPI in March 2024 in section V. "Household items, household appliances and routine maintenance of housing" ranged from 98.4% (electric batteries) to 101.6% (disinfection and pest control services).

The range of fluctuations in the short-term CPI for goods and services included in section VI. "Healthcare", in March 2024, ranged from 99.9% (auxiliary products for vision) to 103.4% (medical laboratory services).By December 2023, the lower limit of the CPI for goods and services in this section is fixed at 100.1% (syringes), the upper limit is 104.4% (antibiotics). For the annual CPI for March 2024, this range was 97.3% (medical gloves and masks) – 112.5% (antiinflammatory drugs).

The cost of railway transport services increased in March 2024 due to an increase in ticket prices on long-distance trains in the observed directions. Air travel on the monitored international routes became more expensive by 2.9% on average per month, and domestic flights by 1.8%.

Various holiday promotions aimed at stimulating demand affected the value of the short-term CPI for such types of goods as peripheral equipment and consumables (CPI 99.7%) and other equipment for receiving, recording and reproducing sound and images (99,8%).

In March 2024, the short-term Title IX CPI range was 99.3% (A4 paper) – 102.3% (leisure travel). The upper limit of the CPI for January-March 2024 in the specified section reached 126.7% (monthly magazine), the lower limit - 97.0% (A4 paper). The CPI in annual terms fluctuated between 92.1% (A4 paper) – 129,0% (tourist trip).

The level of prices for educational services in March of this year did not undergo significant changes. A slight increase in prices was noted only for the services of private preschool educational institutions and educational courses (0,1% each).

The short-term CPI in the food and beverage sector in March 2024 fluctuated between 100.2% (fast food establishments) - 100.6% (canteens). The CPI value for March 2024 compared to the previous month in the hotel services sector ranged from 100.2% (hotels, hotel and similar services) to 100.7% (leisure center services).

In March of this year, the average price level in both insurance and financial services did not change significantly. Minor price fluctuations were recorded only for banking services, where the CPI for the month was 99.4%, and other financial services (100,7%).

In March 2024, the value of short-term CPI for goods and services included in Section XIII ranged from 99,50% foam, gel, shaving cream) to 102,9% (toilet soap). The CPI for March 2024 by December 2023 in this section ranged from 96,2% to 103,7%, by March 2023 – from 100,9% to 121,3%.

A significant contribution to the increase in the short-term composite indicator in March 2024 was made by price changes for food and nonalcoholic drinks, which accounted for 49,3% of the total impact. Price changes in the “Healthcare” and “Transport” sections increased the consolidated indicator for the month by 0,15 p.p. (22,4% of total influence). Due to rising prices for clothing and footwear, the short-term composite indicator in March of this year increased by another 0,04 p.p., which amounted to about 5,9% of the total impact. The impact of price changes in other sections was less significant.

The contribution of price changes for food and non-alcoholic drinks to the growth of the consolidated CPI for March 2024 by December 2023 reached 0,70 p.p., or 42,4% of the total impact of the observed goods and services. The influence of other sections was less significant. In the structure of the annual consolidated CPI for March 2024, over 38% were due to price changes in Section I. “Food and non-alcoholic drinks”