The consumer inflation continues to rise, reaching 17.7% in July. Non-food prices grow by 27.8% year-on-year, food prices by 15.9% and services by 10.3%
In July industrial production prices went up by 24.8% year-on-year.
The consumer price index (CPI) stood at 17.7% in July, the highest level in the past few years. It was higher only during the crisis in 2008.
The highest increase in prices was recorded for non-food goods which has a high share of imported products which became considerably expensive as a result of the depreciation of the tenge – 27.8% year on year. For example, hike in prices of medical preparations was the highest – Corvalol’s price jumped by 78.5% in the past year, cough syrups by 55%, kidney medicines by 53.3% (overall, pharmaceutical products increased by 39.2% in prices in the past year). In the light industry significant growth was recorded in prices of children’s shoes (by 51.2%), t-shits (50.3% and girls’ dresses (45.2%).
Foodstuffs increased in price by 15.9% year on year, with prices of tomatoes and cucumbers jumping by 75.1% and 66.8% year on year respectively, buckwheat by 67.5% and sugar by 65.4%.
CPI in services stood at 10.3%.
Regionally, the highest inflation rate was recorded in Astana where prices of goods and services increased by 24%.
It was followed by Mangistau Region (21.1%) and Almaty (18.3%).
Non-foodstuffs increased in price most in Astana (44.1%). It was followed by Almaty (32.6%) and Kyzylorda Region (28.5%).
Prices of foodstuffs increased most in Karaganda Region (20.6%), followed by Astana (19.2%) and East Kazakhstan Region (18.2%).
Prices of services increased most in oil-rich regions. They grew by 20.6% in Mangistau Region, followed by Atyrau Region (15.1%) and Aktobe Region (14.6%).
Industrial producer prices also increased significantly – by 24.5% year on year.
For comparison, they decreased by 25.9% in 2015 which was explained by the crisis in the processing sector and a considerable drop in prices in the mining sector.
Regionally, industrial enterprises increased prices most in East Kazakhstan Region (61.7% year on year), followed by Karaganda Region (32%) and Kostanay Region (31.8%).
