Inflation in Kazakhstan at 0.3% in May, at 3.3% year to date
ALMATY. June 2 (Interfax) - The inflation level in Kazakhstan stood at 0.5% in May 2017, at 3.3% year to date, while the annualized inflation rate came in at 7.5%, the Statistics Department of the Ministry of National Economy reported.
In the first five months of the year, prices for food products increased 4.3%, while prices for non-food items and services were up 2.6% and 2.7%, respectively.
Since the beginning of this year, prices for potatoes rose 53.9% and prices for fresh vegetables were up 15.3%. Mutton prices rose 10.1% and prices for beef were up 8.4%. Fresh fruits have risen in price 6.1%. Butter and canned milk were up 5.9% and 5.3%, respectively. Horse meat prices have risen 4.2%. Confectionery products have become 4% more expensive, while rennet cheese prices are up 3.7% Prices for cucumbers have dropped 43.1%, with eggs down 20%, tomatoes down 10.2%, and buckwheat prices down 9.6%. Sugar prices fell 6.8%, as did prices for sunflower oil - 5.4% .
In the reporting period, cars became 4.3% more expensive, glass and ceramics were up 4%, and textiles prices rose 3%. Pharmaceutical products have risen in price by 2.6%. Personal care goods, newspapers, books and stationery were all up 2.4%. Furniture and household goods, detergents, and household appliances have all risen in price by 2.1%; Liquefied gas in cylinders has become 5.8% more expensive, with prices for gasoline up 5.5%, and diesel fuel prices up 4.5%. Legal services costs have climbed 7%, and private car insurance has become 6.8% more expensive. Health services costs were up 4.6% and catering costs were up 2.2%. Costs for recreation, entertainment and leisure were all up 2% . Intercity bus fares grew 3.7%, city public bus fares were up 2.7%, while railway passenger tickets dropped in value by 3.1%. Plane ticket prices, meanwhile, were down 1.7%. Central heating tariffs increased 7.3%, hot water bills were up 6.9%, and sewage bills were up 6.8%. Natural gas supplied through distribution networks became 4.2% more expensive, while electricity bills rose 3.1% and cold water bills grew 2.2%.
Since January 2017, the share of food products in the consumer price index was 37.6%, while the shares of non-food products and chargeable services were 30.2% and 32.2%, respectively.
In 2016, inflation in Kazakhstan rose to 8.5%.