OREANDA-NEWS. September 3, 2012. Belarus saw the consumer price index grow 1.5% over the first 14 days of August 2012 and 13.7% since early this year, the National Statistics Committee told.

The largest increase in retail prices was registered with vodka (4.8%), bread and bakery goods (4.6%), wheat flour (4.1%), prefabricated poultry (4%), margarine (2.3%), milk and dairy products, smoked sausage, salt (1.7-2%), beer (1.3%), canned meat, butter, spice cakes (1.2%), pasta (0.9%), children’s clothes (0.8%), furniture (0.7%), technical maintenance of dwellings (26.6%), electricity supply (23.7%), telecommunication (16.8%), long-distance railway communication (11.1%), household services (2.3%).

With the arrival of new vegetables and fruits, the retail price of fresh tomatoes reduced by 27.9%, carrots - down 18.7%, potatoes - down 15.4%, beet roots - down 12.8%, fresh cucumbers – down 11.3%, white cabbage – down 11%, onions – down 5.1%, bananas – down 13%, apples – down 6.2%.

As previously reported, Belarus saw the consumer price index grow 108.7% in 2011, although the initial forecast for 2011 stood at 7.5%-8.5%. Belarus’ inflation forecast for 2012 stands at 19-22%.