Prices rise for fruit, vegetables, eggs, dairy in September

Buying basic foods such as milk, eggs, cheese, vegetables are more expensive in Georgia now than a month ago.

Latest inflation data released today by the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) said prices rose during September, and the monthly inflation rate was mainly formed by price increases for food and non-alcoholic beverages.

In particular, the cost of the following goods increased:

• Vegetables (4.4 percent)
• Milk, cheese and eggs (4.3 percent)
• Fruit and grapes (3.3 percent)

Also last month housing costs and the price of general utilities such as water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose 0.8 percent, contributing 0.07 percentage points to the monthly inflation rate.

In this group of goods, prices were higher for:

• Maintenance and repair of dwellings (1.6 percent)
• Electricity, gas and other fuels (0.9 percent)

Last month some prices also dropped; transport-related costs dropped one percent, which resulted in a -0.12 percentage point contribution to the monthly inflation. Prices also decreased for the subgroup of transport services (-3.3 percent).

In general, Georgia’s monthly inflation rate increased 0.3 percent in September 2016, while the annual inflation rate (Consumer Price Index change) posted a 0.1 percent increase year-on-year (y/y), said Geostat.

Meanwhile, other data from Geostat measured the minimum amount of money a person needed to support themselves in Georgia.

The Geostat data showed in August 2016 a working-age male needed at least 156 GEL (about $67/€60*) per month to support themselves (the minimum subsistence level).