Published
07/23/2025, 12:03The traditional spring decline in prices did not save the Talas region from double-digit growth in the cost of basic foodstuffs. According to data from the National Statistics Committee, inflation in the region stood at 4.4% in May 2025, compared with 1.5% in April. However, over the year, price increases for certain categories were much more impressive.
Vegetables rose in price by 25.8%, meat by 16.2% and fruit by 20.1%. These three food groups were the main drivers of annual inflation. Fish rose in price by 13.1%, oils and fats by 4.4%, and the overall growth in the ‘food products and non-alcoholic beverages’ category was 7.4%.
Against this backdrop, May turned out to be relatively calm. Meat prices even fell by 1%, flour by almost 3%, and vegetables and fruit by 2.8%. Bakery products, pasta, dairy products, eggs and non-alcoholic beverages also became cheaper.
However, even with a local correction against the backdrop of seasonal food supply, the annual dynamics indicate growing pressure on the consumer basket. This is particularly noticeable for households where food accounts for a significant part of their expenses.
Interestingly, against the backdrop of general price increases, some goods have nevertheless become more affordable compared to May last year. For example, rice is down 4%, dairy products and eggs are down 3.6%, and sugar and sweets are down 0.3%. However, these adjustments do not yet offset the sharp rise in basic fresh produce.
