DUSHANBE, April 14, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- In Tajikistan, inflation for the first three months of this year has stood at 4.5 percent, according to the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan.

6.6 percent rise in prices of products of food industry has been reported in January-March and non-foodstuffs have risen in cost by 0.8 percent over the report period.  Prices and rates for services rendered to the population have fallen fell 2.2 percent over the first quarter of 2011.

The government expects the year-end inflation to stand at 7.0 percent in 2011.

In the meantime, the cost of the set of food products included in the consumer basket for actual consumption in prices as of the end of March 2011 was 122.00 somoni (equivalent to US$27.20) per one family member per month, and with the norm for a balanced diet it was 232.00 somoni (equivalent to some US$51.90), the Agency for Statistics reported.