DUSHANBE, September 16, 2011, Asia-Plus -- In Tajikistan, inflation for the first eight months of this year has stood at 8.5 percent, according to the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan.

9.5 percent rise in prices of products of food industry has been reported in January-August and non-foodstuffs have risen in cost by 5.0 percent over the report period.  Prices and rates for services rendered to the population have risen 11.2 percent over the same eight-month period.

In August, consumer prices rose 0.8 percent.  Prices of food industry reportedly rose 0.9 percent, while 0.5 percent rise in non-foodstuffs prices was reported last month.  Prices and rates for services rendered to the population rose 0.9 percent in August.    

At first, the government expected the year-end inflation to stand at 7.0 percent in 2011 but in mid-year the year-end inflation was revised from 7.0 to 11 percent.

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 August 2011 was 120.24 somoni (equivalent to US$25.20) per one family member per month, and with the norm for a balanced diet it was 248.44 somoni (equivalent to some US$52.10), the Agency for Statistics reported.