OREANDA-NEWS. September 7, 2012. Belarus saw the consumer price index grow 2.2% over the first 21 days of August 2012 and 14.5% since early this year, the National Statistics Committee told reporters.

The largest increase in retail prices was registered with vodka (10.7%), poultry (7.5%), wheat flour (5.6%), bread and bakery goods (5.2%), live fish (3.8%), milk and dairy products, smoked sausage, margarine (2.2-2.5%), boneless beef, dumplings, canned meat, salted fish and gourmet fish, butter, chicken eggs, spice cakes, beer (1.4-2.1%), footwear (2.4%), children’s clothes (0.9%), furniture (0.8%), technical maintenance of dwellings (26.6%), electricity supply (23.7%), telecommunication (16.8%), long-distance railway communication (11.2%), household services (3.4%).

With the arrival of new vegetables and fruits, the retail price of fresh tomatoes reduced by 34.5%, carrots - down 26.1%, potatoes - down 18.4%, beet roots - down 17.2%, white cabbage – down 14.2%, onions – down 7.1%, bananas – down 16.6%, apples – down 13.9%.

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%.