Annual inflation in Uzbekistan eases to 7.8% – lowest since 2016

The average price increase since the beginning of the year has reached 5.7%. Compared to the same period last year, inflation rates were higher – 0.8% for the month, 7.7% since the beginning of the year, and 10.2% year-on-year.

The current 7.8% annual inflation rate is the lowest since May 2016, when it was 7.7%, and it remains below the Central Bank’s 2025 inflation forecast of 8%.

Breakdown by category

Food prices rose by an average of 0.9% in October (compared to 1.1% in September), non-food goods by 0.4% (0.7%), and services by 0.3% (0.8%). Year-on-year, food prices increased by 5.9%, non-food goods by 5.8%, and services by 14.4%.

Food products

Among food items, eggs recorded the sharpest monthly increase – 4.1%, though they were 0.4% cheaper than a year ago. Prices for bone-in beef rose by 1.7% (+24.2% year-on-year), boneless beef by 1.6% (+25.3%), mutton by 1.6% (+27.3%), and milk by 1.2% (+7.2%). Vegetable oil prices grew by 0.8% (+26.7%).

Meanwhile, rice and rice groats fell by 2.5% (–17.9%), sugar by 3.1% (–5%), and poultry by 1% (+5.4%).

Among vegetables, tomatoes rose the most – by 61% (–5.3% year-on-year), followed by cucumbers – up 58% (–17.6%) and eggplants – up 11% (–29.9%). In contrast, cabbage became 5.4% cheaper (+24.7%), onions – 5.3% cheaper (+18.9%), and potatoes – 2% cheaper (+17.9%).

Services and utilities

In October, several regions saw higher tariffs for waste collection, hot water supply, and heating. Across the country, prices for these services rose by 4.3%, 1.3%, and 2.7%, respectively. Construction materials for home repairs increased by 0.5%.

On a yearly basis, gas prices rose by 39.2%, water supply and sewage by 35.1%, and electricity by 18.8%.

Fuel

Gasoline prices rose by 1.5% in October and by 7.4% since the start of the year (up 11.7% year-on-year). The price per liter of AI-80 gasoline ranged from UZS 8,400 to 9,700; AI-92 from UZS 10,500 to 13,700; AI-95 and AI-98 from UZS 12,000 to 18,000; and Ai-100 up to UZS 20,500.

According to the statistics committee, AI-92 accounted for over half (54.2%) of all gasoline sales nationwide.

Propane rose by 3.3% (–18% year-on-year), while methane prices increased by 0.1% (+30.5%).

Transport costs also went up: train fares rose by 2.5% (+4% year-on-year), city bus fares by 1.7% (+22.3%), and intercity bus fares by 1.1% (+11.1%). Airline tickets, however, fell by 3.5% (+17.3% year-on-year).

Domestic airfares jumped by 52.4%, driving school courses by 68.9%, and courier and parcel delivery services by 16.8%.

Other categories

Medicine prices increased by 0.4%, and medical treatment services by 0.2–0.3%. Prices at cafés and restaurants grew by 0.5–0.7%.

Fees for electronic money transfers rose by 2.7% (+8.7% year-on-year), while traditional transfer services became 1.9% cheaper (–4.8%).

Regional inflation rates

The highest annual inflation rates were recorded in Fergana Region (8.6%), the Republic of Karakalpakstan (8.2%), and Syrdarya Region (8%). In Tashkent, the figure stood at 7.7%, close to the national average.