Azernews.Az

The most considerable increase was observed in fees on services - 35.84%. Food prices went up 16.33% and those on other goods - 14.75%, according to the Economic Research Center (ERC) that calculates inflation using alternative methods.
Head of the Center Gubad Ibadoglu said that compared to the country's regions, the highest price surges were registered in the capital Baku - over 20%.
Researchers also estimated that inflation is expected to slightly accelerate by the year-end mainly due to seasonal factors.
The government cited a different inflation level in the first nine months of the year - 11%. The State Statistics Committee said domestic prices are likely to rise to no more than 12-14% in 2007.
Inflation was predicted at single digits in this year's budgetary package.
Ibadoghlu told the press that the center would continue the Alternative Inflation Methodology Development project. The Eurasia Foundation will provide assistance for the implementation of the next stage of the project. It envisions calculating and periodically divulging the consumer price index on economic regions and sectors, as well as evaluating the impact of inflation on poverty level.
The alternative inflation project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to calculate an inflation rate to support the government in evaluating how inflation affects average household income and expenditure, and overall welfare in the country.
ERC says its findings have resulted in bolstering the government's anti-inflation policy.