CIS Statistics Committee Posts Q1 Inflation Figures

The highest inflation in the CIS in the first quarter of 2003 was registered in Belarus where prices went up by 8.1 percent, the CIS Statistics Committee reported. In Belarus in the reported period food prices became 7.1 percent more expensive, services were up 14.1 percent and prices of non-food products added 5.6 percent.

In Tajikistan the inflation was 7.9 percent. Food prices grew by 7.1 percent, non-food products by 2.1 percent and services by 26.4 percent.

The lowest inflation in the period from January to March 2003 was registered in Azerbaijan (0.5 percent) where food prices added only 0.8 percent and services became 0.2 percent cheaper.

In Russia the inflation was 5.2 percent. Prices of food products advanced by 4.8 percent, non-food products by 2.8 percent, services by 10.6 percent.