Petrol prices went up sharply in Uzbekistan today, and experts say that this will push consumer prices, transport and utilities costs up.
The best-selling 80 and 91 octane petrol will now cost 22% more: 1,020 and 1,130 sums (US$0.77 and US$0.85) respectively.
Better quality petrol sold at UzGazOil petrol stations went up by slightly over 10% and now Premium Euro 95 costs 2,100 sums ($1.58) and Super Euro 98 2,200 sums (US$1.66).
Petrol prices pushed prices of certain foodstuffs up. A taxi driver said that the price of Russian-made butter went up from 9,000 to 10,000 sums a kilo at the Kuylyuk night market.
Prices of meat and meat products, dairy products, fruit and vegetables were up by about 10% this morning in Tashkent.
The Finance Ministry refused to explain the reasons for the price hike but said that it had nothing to do with a 20% pay rise for public-sector workers from 1 September.
It has become a custom in Uzbekistan that a growth in public-sector wages, pensions and grants led to a greater increase in prices of staples, transport and utilities costs. An economics professor said that the latest pay rise would be no exception.
“Food prices went up by about 20% in July. Fuel prices will affect food prices. Only prices of some products that are regulated by the government will not change. Usually when pay rise is 20% prices go up by 30%,” the professor said.
