In January 2025, the Statistic Agency of Uzbekistan reported that the country’s consumer price index, which measures inflation, was estimated to be 9.9% annually. Compared to December, the index increased by 0.1%.
Over the year, the prices of services increased by 27%. Specifically, the electricity, gas, and other fuel costs were 68.4% higher than the previous year. Utilities saw a price increase of 29.1%, while rent for housing rose by 13.1%.
Education and healthcare services also experienced significant increases, with prices rising by an average of 17.7% and 21.1%, respectively.
In contrast, the prices for goods showed more modest growth. Non-food products increased by 7.7% over the year, while food prices rose by just 2.6%, marking the lowest increase in five years. When excluding the price changes for fruits and vegetables, food costs became 6% more expensive compared to January 2024.
Among food products, the prices of sunflower oil and cottonseed oil increased significantly by 18.1% and 19.5%, respectively. Additionally, beef prices rose by 14.8%, while lamb prices increased by 16.2%. In contrast, poultry meat, eggs, rice and flour became less expensive.
Among vegetables, potatoes saw the most significant price hike, rising by 68.1% over the year. The prices of carrots, cabbage, and beets also rose considerably. However, the prices for fruits and vegetables, which tend to be higher in winter, decreased compared to January 2024.
Kursiv Uzbekistan also explained the reasons for the country’s rising potato prices.
