“Chronicles of Turkmenistan” continues to monitor fluctuations of prices at grocery markets of Ashgabat.
Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” point out that during the first quarter of 2022 the stable dollar exchange rate, which was established in late December at 19 to 20 manats, has remained stable at “the black market”.
This led to a gradual adaptation and stabilization of prices in the markets.
Over the past three months prices for all groups of groceries have seen a noticeable decrease.Unlike the situation with an increase in the dollar exchange rate, when groceries and merchandise might experience an immediate price hike, against backdrop of the decreasing dollar exchange rate, prices will be dropping considerably slower.
Among other factors (seasonal patterns, crop yield, purchasing power etc) this is related to the fact that there is a stock of merchandise at warehouses, which had been purchased at a higher exchange rate and, consequently, at a higher cost in manats.
Also, some time after the decrease in the dollar exchange rate, vendors continued to establish prices based on a higher dollar exchange rate in an attempt to minimize risks related to volatile foreign currency exchange rates at “the black market”.
Prices for vegetables went down by 8% on average.
Prices for fruit dropped by 7% on average.
Prices for canned goods fell by 10% on average.
Over the past three months prices for cereals and pasta decreased by 7,5% on average.
The price for sugar went down from 18 to 16 manats (-11%). There is no shortage of sugar being observed.
The average price for various types of cheese decreased by 7%.
The price for flour dropped by 28% on average. There is still no local flour at subsidized prices in state-run stores but it can be purchased in privately-owned shops or in supermarkets.
Prices for vegetable oil and butter saw an average increase of 2%. Oil at subsidized prices is no longer available. Oil at the market price of 33 to 35 manats per liter is occasionally included in the ration packs delivered to Ashgabat residents. At the end of 2021 the subsidized prices was 18 manats.
The average price for dairy products and eggs decreased by 13% on average.
The average price for meat products dropped by 7,5%. In February meat at subsidized prices, which had been sold in the run-up to New Year holidays following the Presidential order, disappeared from store counters.
Prices for various types of coffee decreased by 7% on average.
There was a decrease in prices for various soft drinks by 24% on average
Prices for alcoholic beverages remained almost unchanged.
Prices for household cleaning products and personal hygiene items dropped by 7% on average.The post Review of price fluctuations for groceries in Ashgabat in the 1st quarter of 2022 first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.