Utility rates, equipment prices, and food costs have risen significantly, with increasing disparities between regions becoming more apparent.
Despite the rapid price growth in 2023 (9.8%), inflation has slightly slowed to 8.6% in 2024, offering some hope for stabilization of the economic situation.
Substantial increases in rates are observed in several sectors. For instance, the cost of cold water has surged by 43.1%, while consumers are now paying 27% more for mobile services. This could have a considerable impact on the everyday expenses of the population.
Prices for electronic devices, such as laptops and tablets, have skyrocketed by 67.3% and 45.7% respectively. This is likely linked to global supply chain issues and shifts in demand.
Among food products, the highest price increases are seen in potatoes (+37.7%), sweet peppers (+25.5%), and tomatoes (+20.3%), while prices for items like buckwheat (-21.4%) and sugar (-3.2%) have decreased.
Inflation in Astana is significantly higher than in other regions of the country, reaching 10.7% — 2.1 percentage points above the national average. In contrast, the Almaty region has reported one of the lowest inflation rates at 6.6%.
This data highlights the need for a careful approach to budget planning, especially in the context of sharp fluctuations in prices and rates for essential services and goods.