Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ASHGABAT114
2010-01-25 07:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: FOOD PRICES GENERALLY STABLE
how-toVZCZCXRO6496 RR RUEHIK DE RUEHAH #0114 0250727 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 250727Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4118 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 6159 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3844 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3703 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 4403 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1435 RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 4328 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000114
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FOOD PRICES GENERALLY STABLE
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000114
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FOOD PRICES GENERALLY STABLE
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for Public
Internet.
2. (U) A recent price check for basic food items at
the local market revealed that prices for locally
produced food items have not changed, but remained
high since August 2009. Prices for imported food
items fell since last August, in part due to price
fluctuations on the global market.
Food Item Jan 2010 Aug 2009 % change
DTM DTM
Bread 1.60 ($.56) 1.60 0
(average price for one loaf)
Flour (1 kg) 1.80 ($.63) 1.80 0
Rice (1 kg) 5.00 ($1.75) 5.00 0
Butter (1 kg) 12.00 ($4.20) 15.00 ($5.30) -20
Veg. Oil (1 lit) 4.20 ($1.50) 4.20 0
Sugar (1 kg) 3.00 ($1.05) 2.80 ($.99) +14
Beef (1 kg) 10.00 ($3.50) 10.00 0
Chicken (1 kg) 10.00 ($3.50) 10.00 0
Milk (1 lit) 2.40 ($.86) 2.40 0
Cheese (1 kg) 20.00 ($7) 26.00 ($9.15) -23
Eggs (ten) 5.00 ($1.75) 5.00 0
3. (SBU) As the above table shows, prices for imported
dairy products dropped between 20 to 23 percent. It
is possible that this price decrease is an attempt to
unload goods that are nearing their expiration date.
Embassy officers have noticed that expiration dates on
most of the boxed, long-life milk being sold in stores
now are the same as the expiration dates on milk that
was being sold in August. An increase in the price of
sugar on the global market resulted in the increase of
its price on the local market.
4. (SBU) Bread prices are officially subsidized if
purchased at government-run bakeries, but the supply
for sale is limited. The price for bread at the
market is three to ten times higher than the
government bakery price. Beef and chicken are the
only food items subject to government-imposed price
ceilings.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Following the president's decree on
the ten percent wage increase effective January 1,
2010 locals expected an increase in food prices. This
has not happened yet, but might happen February, when
local people will receive their first increased
paychecks. END COMMENT.
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FOOD PRICES GENERALLY STABLE
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for Public
Internet.
2. (U) A recent price check for basic food items at
the local market revealed that prices for locally
produced food items have not changed, but remained
high since August 2009. Prices for imported food
items fell since last August, in part due to price
fluctuations on the global market.
Food Item Jan 2010 Aug 2009 % change
DTM DTM
Bread 1.60 ($.56) 1.60 0
(average price for one loaf)
Flour (1 kg) 1.80 ($.63) 1.80 0
Rice (1 kg) 5.00 ($1.75) 5.00 0
Butter (1 kg) 12.00 ($4.20) 15.00 ($5.30) -20
Veg. Oil (1 lit) 4.20 ($1.50) 4.20 0
Sugar (1 kg) 3.00 ($1.05) 2.80 ($.99) +14
Beef (1 kg) 10.00 ($3.50) 10.00 0
Chicken (1 kg) 10.00 ($3.50) 10.00 0
Milk (1 lit) 2.40 ($.86) 2.40 0
Cheese (1 kg) 20.00 ($7) 26.00 ($9.15) -23
Eggs (ten) 5.00 ($1.75) 5.00 0
3. (SBU) As the above table shows, prices for imported
dairy products dropped between 20 to 23 percent. It
is possible that this price decrease is an attempt to
unload goods that are nearing their expiration date.
Embassy officers have noticed that expiration dates on
most of the boxed, long-life milk being sold in stores
now are the same as the expiration dates on milk that
was being sold in August. An increase in the price of
sugar on the global market resulted in the increase of
its price on the local market.
4. (SBU) Bread prices are officially subsidized if
purchased at government-run bakeries, but the supply
for sale is limited. The price for bread at the
market is three to ten times higher than the
government bakery price. Beef and chicken are the
only food items subject to government-imposed price
ceilings.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Following the president's decree on
the ten percent wage increase effective January 1,
2010 locals expected an increase in food prices. This
has not happened yet, but might happen February, when
local people will receive their first increased
paychecks. END COMMENT.