Are prices on meat not rising in Azerbaijan, because population does not buy it?

The cost of the per capita consumer basket per month reached AZN 230.42 in Azerbaijan in April.

The due announcement was made by Nariman Aghayev, chairman of the Research Center of Stable Development by results of the surveys, held on the consumer market.

On the whole, each person has to spend AZN 109.32 a month to fill the consumer basket, while the nonfood basket is cheaper, nearly AZN 75. According to the head of the center, price hike was  the highest on bread, rising by 25% as compared to the previous month.

According to Aghayev, the bread price hike is unnoticed by consumers, as on the background of the stable rise in price, the weight of an average statistical loaf of bread fell from 330 grams down to 250. Inflation on the bread market is connected with the rise in price on flour, whose cost has risen from AZN 24 up to AZN 32 within a month (50 kg). Thus, the monthly inflation rate made up 33% in this case.

Butter and oil, especially vegetable oil, are also among price hike leaders in April on the food market. Vegetable oil has risen by 20% in price through a month. "The prices tend to rise on dairy products, which experienced a 20% rise in prices within a month, especially on sour-cream and cheese".

The head of the center noted that that prices on sausages, especially smoked, have risen by 20% in April in average.

On the other hand, according to Aghayev, one of the most optimistic tendencies on the food market became the stability of meat prices in April. Moreover, prices on meat even declined (by nearly 5%) on some markets of the capital city, which mainly refers to the regions of Azerbaijan. "Thus, in average the beef is sold for AZN 5 and mutton for AZN 6.5-8". The center specialists consider that the decline in prices on meat is mostly connected with the decline in the payment capacity of consumers.

At the same time, the fall in prices on the consumer market is observed on eggs (by 10%).

The consumers positively assessed the rise in prices on some fruits and vegetables, which specialists bound to supplies of new crop to the market. "Nevertheless, a kilo of potatoes on the food market is still AZN 0.4-1 in average". The most expensive fruit on the market is sweet cherry, which costs over AZN 3 per kilo. "Anyway, the further rise in prices on fruits and vegetables is expected with appearance of the new season harvest in the near future".

The building materials experienced highest price hike in April, with an inflation rate making up 30% a month, on the nonfoods market. As is reported, the prices in this market sector rose on cement, metal wares, building stone. "At the same time, in the second half of April, the transportations rose by about 25%, in particular, intercity taxi transportations by 20%".

Considering application of the system of free services in the state medical establishments, the expenses on health in the consumer market have fallen down. "The rise in prices on pharmacological preparations compensated for the decline in the citizens' expenses for medicine". Therefore, the state-applied policy of free medical services did not promote the reduction of expenses for health. "6 out of 10 citizens of Azerbaijan in average are consumers of pharmacological preparations".

/Echo/