“Chronicles of Turkmenistan” continues to monitor fluctuations of prices at grocery markets of Ashgabat.
In the fourth quarter of 2021 prices for groceries dropped by 20% on average.This is related to a dramatic decrease in the dollar exchange rate in “the black market” (in December it went down to 16 manats per $1), the re-opening of borders to import Iranian products as well as the fact that in December 2021 President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov ordered to decrease prices for groceries and merchandise in the run-up to New Year holidays and sent his son Serdar Berdymukhammedov, Deputy Prime Minister overseeing trade, to control the situation in the markets in the Turkmen provinces.
However, in January 2022 the dollar exchange rate began to soar as well as prices for groceries.
Because of the seasonal factor, prices for fruit and vegetables in the last quarter usually go up, but from December 2021 the prices have dropped by 20% on average.
In the fourth quarter of 2021 fruit at subsidized prices appeared in the markets in sufficient quantity.
In the fourth quarter of last year prices for canned goods went up by 4,5% on average whereas from October to December 2021 prices decreased by 15%.
Over the past three months prices for cereals and pasta decreased by 21% on average.
The price for sugar in privately-owned stores went down from 20 to 18 manats (-10%).A year ago it cost 15 manats. The state price for sugar in ration packs was 10 manats per kilo until recently, but when sugar was last delivered, the price of 18 manats was charged. Prices for all types of cheese in the last quarter of 2021 dropped by 15-25%.
There is still no local flour in privately-owned or state stores. The price for imported flour went down by 13% on average.
In the last three months of 2021 the price for vegetable oil went down by one third but the price for butter dropped by 20%. Up until recently the state price for vegetable oil in ration packs was 18 manats per liter, but during the last delivery the price of 35 manats was charged.
The price for dairy products in the fourth quarter of 2021 decreased by 15%, while the price for eggs went up by 20-25%.
The price for eggs in shops soared from 2,4 to 3 manats (+25%), for free range eggs from 2,9 to 3,5 manats (21%).
In ration packs, which are occasionally delivered to residents’ homes, eggs cost 1 manat apiece.A year ago eggs cost 1,4 manats apiece in privately-owned stores and 0,45 manats in state-run stores.
In the markets meat at subsidized prices is still available, which started to be sold in the run-up to New Year holidays.A kilo of meat in a set of by-products costs 35 manats.
In the last three months of 2021 the market prices for meat, fish and meat products dropped by 9% on average.
From October to late December 2021 the price for coffee decreased by 25% on average.
The price for various soft drinks in the fourth quarter of 2021 went down by 18% on average.
Prices for alcoholic beverages in the last three months have remained quite stable. In December 2021 the announcement was made that excise for alcoholic beverages would increase which will apparently result in a price hike for alcohol.
From October to December 2021 prices for household cleaning products and personal hygiene items dropped by 21% on average.
Apart from groceries, prices for household appliances and electronics also went down, which is affected by the dollar exchange rate.The post Review of price fluctuations for groceries over the past three months and the entire 2021 first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.