In Kazakhstan, annual inflation in May amounted to 15.9%

In May 2023, the monthly consumer price index slowed to 0.6% compared to 0.9% in April.In Kazakhstan, inflation in May amounted to 15.9% year-on-year, the press service of the Bureau of National Statistics reports. Prices for food products increased by 16.5%, non-food products - by 17.2%, paid services - by 13.5%. Compared to May 2022, office supplies rose by 67.5%, cucumbers - by 53.4%, household soap - by 49.7%, dishwashing detergent - by 47.1%, concentrated sugar-free milk - by 46.6%, rice - by 44.9%, day hospital treatment - by 43.6%, sugar-refined - by 42.7%. On the contrary, in annual terms, cabbage and carrots fell in price by 19.1% each, potatoes - by 16.8%, garlic - by 8.4%, beets - by 7.1%," the bureau informed. It is noted that in May 2023, the monthly consumer price index slowed down and amounted to 0.6% compared with 0.9% in April. According to the bureau, prices for paid services increased by 0.7%, food and non-food products rose by 0.5% each. Also, an increase in prices was noted for air passenger transport services by 11.5%, rail - by 2.5%. There is an increase in prices for sanatorium services by 5.6%, in the field of recreation and sports events - by 2.9%, preschool services - by 1.7%, healthcare - by 1.4%. Among food products, prices rose for fruit and vegetable products, in May cabbage rose by 23.8%, onions - by 9.9%, grapes - by 9.6%, carrots - by 8.6%, apples - by 5.3%, potatoes - by 4%. The increase in prices was noted for rice - 2.5%, soft drinks - by 1.9%, drinking milk - by 1.8%, tea - by 1.6%. Cucumbers have fallen in price by 39.6%, tomatoes - by 23.7%, sweet peppers - by 7.6%, buckwheat groats - by 4%, bananas - by 3.8%," the press service reported. The increase in prices in May was observed for liquefied gas in cylinders by 1.7%, gasoline - by 1.2%, diesel fuel - by 0.7%. Prices compared to last month increased for clothing and shoes by 1.3%, personal goods - by 1.2%, dishes - by 0.9%, detergents and cleaning products - by 0.8%. According to the bureau, among the regions, the highest monthly inflation was registered in the city of Shymkent - by 1% (above the national average by 0.4 percentage points), the lowest - 0.1% in the Pavlodar region. In the context of regions, prices for food products increased the most in the Ulytau region by 1.4%, non-food products - in the city of Almaty and the North Kazakhstan region by 1%, paid services - in the city of Shymkent by 2.7%," the press service added. Recall that in April, the consumer price index for the month amounted to 0.9%, remaining at the level of March.