DUSHANBE, April 25, Asia-Plus - The National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) expects  the inflation to be at 9 percent this year.   

Speaking to journalists, Tajik central bank head Murodali Alimardonov noted that increase in prices of natural gas and electrical power has affected the inflation rate in Tajikistan.

According to the NBT, the inflation rate in the first quarter of the year amounted to 2.2 percent, while in the same period of 2006 it was 3.2 percent. 

Overt the first three months of 2007, prices of food products have increased by 1.8 percent.  Prices of paid services rendered to the population over the same three-month period have increased by 8 percent, and non-foodstuffs prices have risen in cost by 0.2 percent.