English

Consumer prices reported up 20.1 percent this year as of November 27

Consumer prices in Belarus increased by 20.1 percent this year as of November 27, according to the National Statistical Committee (Belstat).

Consumer prices rose by 18.1 percent in the first 10 months of the year and by 1.7 percent since the beginning of November, Belstat reported.

Between November 1 and November 27, the highest increases occurred in the prices of central heating service (50.8 percent), tomatoes (19.2 percent), apples (17.6 percent), cucumbers (13.6 percent), international train tickets (8.3 percent), wheat flour (8.3 percent), semolina (4.9 percent), potatoes (4.8 percent), pasta (3.7 percent), cigarettes (3.4 percent), consumer services (3.3 percent), canned meat, dry milk formulas, bread and bakery products, butter, tea and alcoholic drinks (2.2 to 2.9 percent), synthetic household detergents (2.9 percent), furniture (2.5 percent), and communications services (2.4 percent).

Carrots decreased in price by 7.4 percent, bulb onions by 6.8 percent, cabbages by 6.7 percent, beetroot by five percent and bananas by 4.6 percent.

The government initially projected inflation to slow to 19 to 22 percent in 2012, but Alyaksandr Lukashenka suggested in February that the government should revise its inflation projection for the year downward to 13 to 15 percent.

Deputy Economy Minister Alyaksandr Yarashenka told reporters earlier this month that the government considered it realistic for this year’s inflation to be below 22 percent. //BelaPAN