Uzbekistan’s annual inflation eased to 8% in September versus 8.8% in August and 10.5% a year ago, according to the state’s statistical agency.

Consumer prices also rose 0.6% m/m, accelerating from 0.4% m/m in August.

Taking this year to the end of September, cumulative inflation measured 5.1% compared to 6.7% in the same period of last year.

Food prices in September rose 0.6% m/m. They were also posted as up 6.1% in the year to the end of the month. 

Non-food goods increased 0.3% m/m and 6.1% year-to-date. Gasoline prices rose 1.4% m/m and 11.8% y/y. 

Methane prices were stable (+0.1% m/m) but surged more than 30% y/y, while propane fell 1% m/m. 

Pharmaceuticals rose 0.2% m/m and 6.7% y/y.

In the services sector, prices increased 0.3% m/m and 14.9% y/y. 

Passenger transport prices rose 0.6% m/m and 16.2% y/y, while car prices climbed 1% m/m and 15.7% y/y. 

Driving school fees surged 5% m/m and 73.3% y/y.

Regionally, the highest monthly inflation was recorded in Karakalpakstan at 0.8%, while five regions — Bukhara, Namangan, Syrdarya, Tashkent and Khorezm — registered just 0.5%. 

Cumulative inflation since January was highest in Karakalpakstan, Surkhandarya and Fergana (5.6%) and lowest in Jizzakh (4.4%). Annual inflation was strongest in Fergana at 8.9% and lowest in Andijan and Jizzakh at 7.5%.

Earlier, the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) forecast Uzbekistan’s inflation will ease to 8.1% by end-2025, then fall to 6.8% in 2026 and 5.4% in 2027, supported by steady monetary policy.