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Sugar, onions, apples and carrots became cheaper in Kazakhstan over the past week, but that does not mean food prices fell across the board. According to the Ministry of Trade, prices for socially essential goods have risen by around 2% since the start of the year (kursiv.media). The ministry says price growth has slowed for the second month in a row. Shoppers on Threads greeted the reports with scepticism and shared how much they have been spending.
Which foods got cheaper over the week
Sugar saw the biggest price drop among the products listed. Onions, apples and carrots also became cheaper, but the declines were smaller:
- sugar — down 2.4%;
- onions — down 1.7%;
- apples — down 0.9%;
- carrots — down 0.9%.
Rice and lamb prices also fell. These weekly changes apply to individual foods: the figures do not mean the total grocery bill fell by the same percentage.
Which food prices stayed the same
Prices for bread, pasta, butter, salt and tea were unchanged over the same week. These items held steady while prices fell for the other products listed.
So, when working out your savings, it matters what you buy. A drop in the price of sugar does not mean the same savings on bread or butter. The total depends on which foods go into your basket and how much of each you buy.
What a price rise of around 2% means
The Ministry of Trade compares prices for socially essential goods with those at the start of the year. Over that period, they have risen by around 2%. The increase over the same period last year was 8%.
This means goods are still getting more expensive, but at a slower pace than over the comparable period last year. Prices for individual items can fall over a week while still being higher than at the start of the year. These figures measure changes over different periods.
What shoppers are saying
Threads users were sceptical about the ministry’s figures. In the comments, they reported paying more for cottage cheese, eggs and bread, citing their own purchases.
Other commenters linked the price declines to seasonal vegetables and complained about meat prices. These are shoppers’ personal observations. They reflect reactions to the ministry’s announcement, but do not in themselves establish how prices are changing nationwide.
Where food is being offered for less
The Dala Dami agricultural fairs offer food at below-market prices. At some fairs in Astana, organisers promised prices 15–20% lower. This is the advertised offer at specific locations.
The Republic Day and Bereke Fest promotions are running in Kazakhstan until 27 October. A total of 649 retail outlets across all 20 regions of the country have joined in. Discounts of up to 50% are advertised on selected goods.
The discount depends on the specific offer: the maximum 50% does not mean prices have been cut across the entire range. A separate article covers which foods have become cheaper.
Put simply
Some foods became cheaper over the week, while prices for socially essential goods have risen by around 2% since the start of the year. If you plan to buy something on promotion, compare its price at several shops. Check the actual price tag and the terms of the offer: discounts apply to selected items, and the holiday promotions run until 27 October.
