March inflation: Meat and vegetable prices drive monthly growth in Uzbekistan

Consumer prices in Uzbekistan rose by 0.6% in March 2026, bringing the annual inflation rate to 7.1%, according to the National Statistics Committee. This represents a significant year-on-year slowdown compared to March 2025, when monthly inflation stood at 0.9% and the annual rate reached 10.3%.

Food prices see mixed trends

Food prices increased by 1.2% over the month, largely driven by the rising cost of meat and basic staples. Beef prices rose for both imported and locally produced products, with the lowest market prices increasing by approximately UZS 5,000 per kilogram on average. Specific increases included:

Eggs – up 2.1% (up 17% year–on–year)
Bone-in beef – up 1.8% (+15.1%)
Lamb and boneless beef – both up 1.2%
Live and chilled fish – up 1.7% (+5.3%)
Sugar – up 1.7% (+0.8%)
Vegetable oil – up 0.9% (+13.3%)

Conversely, prices for poultry meat fell by 0.3-0.4%, while rice and broken rice declined by 0.4% (down 12.3% compared to last year). In the fruit and vegetable segment, tomatoes (11.5%), bell peppers (10%), and potatoes (9.8%) saw the sharpest increases. However, seasonal declines were recorded for cucumbers (down 20.7%), cabbage (4.7%), and onions (4.6%).

Fuel and transport costs

Fuel prices showed a downward trend in March. Average gasoline prices fell by 0.9%, with AI-95 dropping by 1.3% and AI-92 by 0.9%. Propane prices decreased by 3.2%, with the upper price limit reaching UZS 8,400 per liter. While methane prices remained stable compared to February, they remain 30.3% higher than in March 2025.

Passenger transport fares also declined as the national currency strengthened against the euro and Swiss franc. Airfares dropped by 4.1% on average, while long-distance train tickets fell by 0.5%. However, international bus fares (up 1.4%) and taxi services (up 0.4%) saw slight increases.

Services and regional breakdown

Inflation for services stood at 0.2% for the month. Notable increases were seen in household waste collection (up 0.9%), private kindergarten fees (up 0.8%), and medicines (up 0.7%).

Regionally, the Fergana region recorded the highest annual inflation at 7.5%, followed by Khorezm (7.4%), Namangan (7.3%), and Bukhara (7.3%). The Jizzakh region maintained the lowest inflation rate in the country at 6.4%, while the rate in Tashkent city stood at 6.9%.