DUSHANBE, January 19, Asia-Plus — In 2007, inflation exceeded all expectations and had stood at 19.7 percent by the end of the year, despite government’s efforts to hold it at the rate of 7 percent.
According Ghafurjon Rasoulov, a spokesman for the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT), the ministry specialists attribute high inflation rate to world market trends and rising prices of main consumer goods imported to the country.
“In the first half-year of 2007, inflation rate was relatively stable, but beginning from July world prices of flour and fuel rose sharply and affected the inflation rate in the country,” the spokesman said, noting that inflation rate rose from 6.3 percent in September to 12.3 percent in October. By the end of the year, inflation had stood at 19.7 percent according to him.
Surge of inflation caused 25.5 percent rise in prices of basic food products, 7.5 percent rise in prices of nonfoods and 17.1 percent rise in prices of the paid rendered services.
In the meantime, according to the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT), the government intends to curb inflation and hold it at the rate of 8 percent this year.
