According to the National Statistics Office of Georgia, in April 2020 the Consumer Price Index increased by 0.9 percent compared to the previous month, while the annual inflation rate amounted to 6.9 percent. With regard to the annual core inflation, the prices increased by 4.6 percent, while the annual core inflation without tobacco amounted to 4.1 percent.

“The monthly inflation rate was mainly influenced by price changes for the following groups:

Food and non-alcoholic beverages: the prices in the group increased by 3.0 percent, contributing 1.01 percentage points to the overall monthly inflation rate. Within the group, the prices were higher for the following subgroups: fruit and grapes (17.7 percent), vegetables (7.1 percent), fish (6.2 percent), coffee, tea and cocoa (4.4 percent), sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery (3.0 percent), bread and cereals (1.6 percent), meat (1.2 percent), oils and fats (0.9 percent). In addition, the prices decreased for milk, cheese, and eggs (-0.3 percent);

Transport: the prices went down by 3.0 percent, contributing to -0.36 percentage points to the overall monthly inflation rate. The prices decreased for the operation of personal transport equipment (-3.8 percent).

The annual inflation rate was mainly influenced by price changes for the following groups:

Food and non-alcoholic beverages: the prices in the group increased by 16.1 percent, contributing 5.04 percentage points to the overall annual inflation rate. Within the group the prices were higher for the following subgroups: fruit and grapes (45.4 percent), milk, cheese and eggs (23.2 percent), sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery (16.9 percent), meat (15.0 percent), fish (14.9 percent), vegetables (14.1 percent), oils and fats (11.0 percent), mineral waters, soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices (10.0 percent), coffee, tea and cocoa (10.0 percent) and bread and cereals (8.4 percent);

Health: the prices went up by 4.9 percent, contributing 0.39 percentage points to the overall annual inflation rate. The prices increased for the following subgroups: medical products, appliances, and equipment (8.4 percent) and out-patient services (4.4 percent)”, reads the report published by the National Statistics Office of Georgia.

According to the agency, the restrictions imposed during the pandemic had an impact on the price collection process to some extent. In particular, some retail outlets were not functioning, which made it impossible to register certain prices. Out of 1800 outlets 1150 had canceled all operations and as a result, only up to 40% of the total amount of price database was registered.

source: IPN