Uzbekistan’s poverty rate fell from 11% to 8.9% in 2024, Center for Economic Research and Reforms and Ministry of Employment said. During one year, 719,000 people out of poverty. The lowest poverty rate was recorded in Navoiy region (5.7%), while the highest was in Khorezm (11.9%).
In 2024, the volume of imported electric and hybrid vehicles in Uzbekistan surpassed gasoline cars for the first time. The average price of an imported electric car decreased almost three times.
Uzbekistan’s official inflation rate in 2024 reached 9.8%, exceeding the Central Bank’s projections, with a 1% increase recorded in December. Over the year, the cost of essentials like potatoes surged by nearly 40%, while gas tariffs more than doubled, and electricity prices rose by 70%.
Inflation rate in Uzbekistan made up 1.23% in September, slightly below last year’s figure. However, food, fuel, and service prices continued to increase sharply, with annual inflation holding steady at 10.46%, according to the Statistics Agency.
Inflation in Uzbekistan increased to 0.93% in April, with annual inflation exceeding 8%. This increase was influenced by the removal of the zero VAT rate on medicines and utilities, including water supply, heating, and sewage. Prices also rose for sugar, milk, flour, meat, and other goods.
Minimum expenditure basket in Uzbekistan, also used to determine the poverty line, has risen by 4.3%, from 621,000 soums to 648,000 soums (from $49 to $51) per month. This adjustment, the second this year, reflects the upcoming increase in gas and electricity tariffs from 1 May.
Uzbekistan’s gold exports amounted to $1.35 billion in March, with a cumulative export value of $2.66 billion since the beginning of the year, accounting for 41.7% of the country’s total export revenue.
Permanent population of Uzbekistan surpassed 37 million on April 22. Since the beginning of the year, the figure has grown by over 200,000 people, with an increase of more than 36,700 just in the ongoing month of April.
World Bank revised Uzbekistan’s 2024 GDP growth forecast down from 5.5% to 5.3%. Inflation is expected to rise due to higher energy prices. WB also identifies such risks as reduced growth in Russia and China, and increase in potential financial liabilities for state-owned enterprises and banks.
Uzbekistan saw an eight-year low inflation rate of 0.67% in March, with annual inflation dipping below 8%. Meat prices fell for the fifth consecutive month, the cost of milk, sugar, flour, potatoes, onions, carrots, gasoline, air travel, and rail transportation increased, the Statistics Agency says.
Net profit of Uzbekneftegaz dropped by more than half to 611.6 billion soums (about $49.6 million) by the end of last year, marking a fivefold decrease over the past three years.
Population census in Uzbekistan is now scheduled for 2025−2026. Initially planned for 2022, it was postponed due to the pandemic. The results are expected to be published in 2027. Additionally, the Statistics Agency will start preparations for the agricultural census.
In late January, Uzbekistan’s gas production dropped 9.4% to 3.99 billion cubic meters from January 2023, though it remained higher than recent months. Oil, coal, gasoline, and diesel production also declined. The number of operational industrial enterprises decreased by 25,200.
Uzbekistan’s natural gas supplies to China almost halved in 2023, reaching $563.5 million. In December, exports amounted to $54.5 million.
Uzbekistan’s 2023 trade turnover increased by 23.8% to $62.6 billion, yielding a record $13.7 billion trade deficit. Record gold exports reached a third of total volume, while those of textile and manufactured goods declined. Imports surged for food, oil and gas.
Inflation in Uzbekistan made up 8.77% in 2023, lowest since 2016. During the year, rice price grew by 38.7%, meat by 9.3%, milk by 13.3%, eggs by 11.7%, sugar by 11%. Gasoline prices increased by 19.1%, propane (as car fuel) by 29.4%.
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