DUSHANBE, February 9, 2016, Asia-Plus – The National Bank of Tajikistan has called on media not to dramatize the issue of rise in prices in the country’s consumer market.
In a statement released on February 9, Tajik central bank, in particular notes inflation last year showed a downward trend and the year-end inflation stood at 5.1 percent in 2015.
During 2015, prices of foodstuffs increased by 4.3 percent and non-foodstuffs rose 7.8 percent during last year. During 2015 prices and rates for services rendered to the population reportedly increased by 2.3 percent.
According to the statement, prices for agricultural goods, including potatoes, onions, carrots and dairy products, were quite moderate last year.
There was an insignificant rise in prices for imported food products, such as wheat flour, sugar and vegetable oil, as well as for liquefied gas and detergents last year, the statement says, noting that those price changes have a seasonal nature.
Tajik central bank calls on media not to dramatize the situation and to assess it objectively.
We will recall that Sayfullo Amonov, the head of the Dushanbe economic development and trade department, told Asia-Plus n February 2 for 12 of 31 types of food products, primarily domestic food products, being sold at local markets have fallen 34 percent since January 1.
“Meanwhile, prices for 19 types of imported food products have risen 48 percent over the report period,” Amonov said
An article “Tajikistan: Poverty Fears Rise as Economy Slides” posted on the EurasiaNet.org website on February 2 notes that “Markets in Dushanbe are visibly less crowded these days. Everybody grumbles at how much, and how fast, things are becoming more expensive. If a month ago, a liter of sunflower oil cost 10 somoni, the same now costs 15 somoni. A kilo of sugar was five somoni, now it is eight somoni. The trend is the same for other common staples, such as potatoes and onions.”
There has been particular alarm about the rise in the price for flour, which went up over 20 percent within a 10-day span in January, the article said.
