Fruits, vegetables drive food inflation in Azerbaijan — lawmaker

Consumer prices in Azerbaijan rose 5.7% in the first quarter, while food, alcohol and tobacco prices increased 6.8%, lawmaker Vugar Bayramov said.

Annual inflation for food, alcohol and tobacco reached 6.5% in March, he added.

The sharpest increases were recorded in fruits and vegetables, with fruit prices up 3.6% and vegetables rising 3.2% on a monthly basis.

Prices also rose for rice, bread, chicken, fresh fish, dairy products, vegetable oils, citrus fruits, apples, pears, nuts, and vegetables including cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, carrots and potatoes.

Bayramov said higher price growth in fruits and vegetables reflects their high import share, adding that geopolitical tensions, including the situation around Iran, have intensified imported inflation.