Prices for certain socially significant products in Kazakhstan have risen by 10.6–87.3% over the year. At the same time, the Bureau of National Statistics reported that food prices rose by 9.5% over the year.
HOW PRODUCT PRICES HAVE CHANGED
According to the Telegram channel “The Black Swan, the Crayfish and the Pike”, the most notable increases over the year were seen in certain items from the list of socially significant products.
The cost of first-grade wheat flour rose from 224 to 414, or by 84.8%. The price of buckwheat increased from 221 to 414 (87.3%).
Pasta shells went up from 311 to 521 (67.5%), and milk — from 420 to 665 (58.3%).
WHICH OTHER PRODUCTS HAVE SEEN NOTICEABLE PRICE RISES
The price of rice rose from 403 to 538 (33.5%). The cost of kefir increased by the same amount — from 457 to 610.
Beef went up from 3131 to 3800 (21.4%), and salt — from 83 to 100 (20.5%). The price of carrots increased from 207 to 249 (20.3%).
The cost of butter rose from 4762 to 5690 (19.5%). Potatoes went up from 202 to 241 (19.3%), and chicken meat — from 1512 to 1766 (16.8%).
The smallest increase among the listed items was seen in wheat bread: its price rose from 208 to 230 (10.6%).
WHY THE DATA DIFFERS FROM THE OVERALL INFLATION FIGURE
Earlier, the Bureau of National Statistics reported that inflation in August 2026 stood at 9.8%. Food inflation on an annual basis also slowed from 13.5% in December 2025 to 9.5% in August 2026.
At the same time, a comparison of individual average prices for socially significant products shows higher growth across a number of items.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR CONSUMER SPENDING
The rise in prices for certain products is reflected in the cost of everyday grocery baskets. In particular, as noted in the publication, the cost of a set of ingredients for making a kazan of pilaf has increased by approximately 30%.
