In March this year, consumer prices in Tajikistan increased on average by 0.4% in March of this year, including a 0.5% rise in foodstuffs prices, a 0.2% increase in non-foodstuffs, and a 0.6% rise in prices and rates for services rendered to the population, according to the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan.
Overall, since the beginning of the year, consumer prices have risen 1.2%. Over the frist three months of this year, prices of foodstuffs have increased by 1.6%, non-foodstuffs have remained at the same level as at the start of the year, and prices and rates of services rendered to the population have increased by 3.4% over the same three-month period.
Foodstuffs rose in cost by 0.5 percent last month with the prices increasing most significantly for the following: fruits – by 5.8 percent; cabbage – by 4.0 percent; onions – by 3.2 percent; and sugar – by 2.7 percent.
Meanwhile, prices decreased for rice (by 2.1%), carrots (by 1.3%), eggs (by 1.1%), beef (by 0.8%), and mutton (by 0.6%).
Over the first three months of this year, the most significant price increases have been for fruits (by 12.1%), vegetables (by 4.3%), oils and fats (by 2.2%), flour, and non-alcoholic beverages (by 1.5%). Prices decreased for carrots (by 4.1%), eggs (by 3.1%), rice (by 6%), and some other products in relatively small amounts.
Price Index for Major Types of Food Products
Non-foodstuffs rose in cost on average 0.2 percent last month. The increase in cost of non-foodstuffs was reportedly caused by the 0.8-percent rise in prices for household goods, construction materials – by 0.6 percent, gasoline – by 0.5 percent, clothing and footwear – by 0.4 percent.
At the same time, prices decreased for lubricants (by 2.3%), liquefied gas (by 4.7%), and diesel fuel (by 0.4%).
It is noted that over the first three months of this year, non-food items have mainly increased in price due to the rise in the cost of liquefied gas (by 9.2%), furniture and household goods (by 0.8% each), as well as clothing and footwear (by 0.3%). However, gasoline and diesel fuel have become cheaper by 5.6% and 9.5%, respectively.
In March, prices and rates for services rendered to the population increased on average by 0.6 percent, mainly due to the increase in housing and communal services (by 0.8%) and household services (by 0.3%).
In January-March this year, prices and rates for services rendered to the population have increased by 3.4%, mainly due to the rise in air transportation costs (including air tickets for the Dushanbe-Moscow route by 2.1%).
