According to the National Statistical Committee, consumer prices in Uzbekistan rose by 0.6% in October 2026, while the annual inflation rate reached 6.5%. Previously, in October 2025, the annual rate was 7.8%, and in September 2026, it was 6.4%.
Since the beginning of the current year, prices have increased by 4.8%, which is lower than the 5.7% recorded for the period from January to October 2025. If fruits and vegetables are excluded, the price growth during the month was 0.5%, corresponding to the level in October of last year. For the period from January to October, price growth amounted to 6.1%, compared to 7.2% a year earlier, while the annual indicator decreased from 8.6% to 6.8%.
Main factors driving price growth
The main driver of monthly price growth was the food category. The 'Food and non-alcoholic beverages' segment increased by 1.0%, adding 0.39 percentage points to the overall index, accounting for 62.9% of the total increase in this category. Housing and utilities, as well as transport, also contributed, each adding 0.12 percentage points, while other categories added 0.11 percentage points. The total monthly increase was 0.62 percentage points.
Among staple foods, excluding fruits and vegetables, eggs showed the largest monthly growth, rising by 5.2%, which is 12.7% higher than a year ago. Chicken drumsticks and thighs increased by 1.6%, and lamb, fish, and seafood rose by 1.4%. Bone-in beef and whole poultry became 1.2% more expensive, minced meat rose by 1.1%, and the average price of milk increased by 1.0%. White-feathered beef rose by 0.9%, and premium flour bread by 0.7%.
Throughout the year, meat showed the most significant increases among the listed food products: lamb rose by 19.5%, bone-in beef by 17.1%, bone-in beef by 15.6%, and minced meat by 14.8%. Sugar prices fell by an average of 2.2% in October, but they remained 0.6% higher than a year ago.
Dynamics of fruit and vegetable prices
Seasonal factors influenced the cost of fruits and vegetables. Lemons became 15.0% cheaper during the month, grapes dropped by 7.5%, apples by 3.0%, and bananas by 1.3%. Vegetable prices moved in the opposite direction: eggplant and cucumbers rose by 9.0%, tomatoes by 8.8%, bell peppers by 8.7%, and potatoes by 5.3%. Nevertheless, compared to October 2025, eggplants were 31.6% cheaper, cucumbers were 21.2% cheaper, and potatoes were 3.5% cheaper.
By major expenditure groups, prices for goods rose by 0.6% in October, by 4.3% since the beginning of the year, and by 6.1% year-on-year. Food prices increased by 1.0% monthly and by 6.4% annually, which is higher than the 5.9% annual growth a year ago. Non-food items rose by 0.2% in October and by 5.6% year-on-year.
Service prices rose by 0.6% during the month and by 6.3% since the beginning of the year, significantly higher than the 12.7% recorded for the same period last year. Annual service inflation was 7.3%, down from 14.4% in October 2025.
Changes in transport tariffs
Significant changes occurred in passenger transport tariffs in Tashkent. New tariffs came into force in the capital in October, leading to a 26.1% increase in metro fares. The fare for city buses in Tashkent also rose by 26.1%, while the average increase across Uzbekistan was 7.1%. The statistical agency took into account various payment methods when calculating indices. The average taxi fare increased by 1.3%, including 2.5% in Tashkent.
Gasoline prices rose by an average of 1.0% in October and 19.5% over the year. AI-92 gasoline rose by 0.5%, AI-95 by 2.6%, and AI-98 and AI-100 by 5.3%. In October, the price of AI-92 gasoline fluctuated between 10,500 and 18,000 soms per liter, AI-95 between 13,500 and 21,500 soms, and AI-98 and AI-100 between 16,500 and 28,000 soms.
Propane gas prices rose by 0.4% monthly and 44.7% year-on-year, with the upper limit of the price range reaching 10,000 soms per liter. Methane prices remained unchanged in October, although they were 10.0% higher than a year ago.
Average fuel prices were calculated based on tax authority data for the period from October 1 to 25. The statistical agency used 29,245 gasoline price quotes from 858 points, 8,464 propane price quotes from 368 points, and 14,284 methane price quotes from 570 points.
The cost of domestic air tickets decreased by 1.4%, attributed to the strengthening of the sum against the euro. International air tickets, conversely, rose by 0.7%, as higher fuel surcharges outweighed the downward pressure from exchange rate fluctuations.
Fares for suburban trains increased by 1.4%, and intercity train tickets became 0.6% more expensive. The rise in long-distance travel prices is linked to changes in the sum's exchange rate against the Swiss franc and the revision of coefficients used to calculate tariffs. Driving lessons and services related to obtaining a driver's license rose by 0.8%.
Housing and services
In the housing and utility sector, tariffs for cold water supply and sewage rose by an average of 4.7% during the month and 7.7% over the year. Tariff increases occurred in the regions of Navoi, Samarkand, and Tashkent. Market prices for coal sold to households rose by 0.3%, and firewood prices by 0.5%. In June 2026, coal prices for the population increased 2.1 times after the abolition of state regulation.
Private kindergartens increased their fees by an average of 0.6%, private schools by 0.5%, and universities by 0.1%. Prices for these services in state institutions remained unchanged. Private tutoring became 1.6% more expensive, and foreign language courses rose by 0.8%.
Year-on-year, the fastest price growth was recorded in the insurance and financial services sector—at 44.5%. Housing services, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels rose by 11.8%, transport by 7.6%, and restaurant and hotel services by 7.4%. Food products, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco products increased by 6.4%. Clothing and footwear, as well as medical services, showed the lowest annual price growth at 3.1%.
No significant regional deviations from national averages were noted. Monthly price growth rates ranged from 0.5% to 0.9%, with the highest rate recorded in Tashkent. Annual inflation ranged from 5.5% in the Syrdarya region to 7.4% in the capital. Annual price growth was 6.7% in the Samarkand region, 6.6% in the Fergana region, and 6.5% in the Tashkent, Kashkadarya, and Khorezm regions.
From January to October 2026, the overall consumer price index increased by 4.82 percentage points. Nearly 70% of this growth is attributed to three categories: food added 1.48 percentage points, housing and utilities added 1.23 percentage points, and transport added 0.65 percentage points. Other categories contributed 1.46 percentage points.
Since January 2026, the National Statistical Committee has also been using Young's geometric formula to calculate the CPI. This indicator is intended solely for analytical purposes and does not replace the main index. In October, it stood at 100.7% monthly and 103.8% compared to December 2025.
The main indicator of inflation remains the CPI calculated using the modified arithmetic Young's formula, which was recommended by IMF experts. In 2026, the index is calculated based on 517 items, including 419 goods and 98 services, compared to 510 items in 2025. Over 3 million price quotes were processed in October. Price collection is carried out from the 1st to the 25th of each month in Nukus, Tashkent, regional centers, and selected urban and district centers.
