Kazakhstan sees 0.6% inflation in May, annual figure slows to 15.9%

ASTANA. June 1 (Interfax) - Inflation in Kazakhstan was 0.6% in May compared to April, the National Statistics Bureau of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms said.

Annual inflation slowed to 15.9% in May, from 16.8% in April and from 18.3% in March. Food prices went up 16.5%, and nonfood prices and service charges rose 17.2%, and 13.5%.

The highest monthly inflation was reported in Shymkent at 1%, and the lowest was in the Pavlodar region at 0.1%.

Airfares went up 11.5% in May.

Food prices rose most in the Ulytau region by 1.4%, non-food prices in Almaty and the North-Kazakhstan region by 1% and services in Shymkent by 2.7%.

Kazakhstan had 20.3% inflation in 2022. The budget is targeting 7.5-9.5% for 2023.