State-controlled prices up 5.6 percent amid inflation concerns

July 13, BPN. The National Bank of Belarus has said in a report that the state-controlled prices and tariffs rose 2.8 times faster than core inflation of two percent in the first half of the year.

Overall prices increased by 2.97 percent, with food up 3.14 percent, non-food items up 0.93 percent and paid services up 5.45 percent.

The report comes as Alaksandr Łukašenka aims to rein in inflation, which he ordered to be kept below seven percent this year. In March, he warned the government to use all available means to achieve that goal.