DUSHANBE, July 6, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Belarus and Tajikistan topped the CIS nations in terms of inflation for the first five months of this year.

According to the CIS Interstate Committee for Statistics, over the report period, the highest inflation rate has been reported in Belarus – 25.4 percent.  In Tajikistan, inflation for January-May this year stood at 6.9 percent.  Kyrgyzstan is also reported among the top three CIS nations in terms of inflation.  In Kyrgyzstan, inflation for the report period stood at 6.5 percent.

Over the same five-month period, in Ukraine inflation stood at 5.5 percent, in Armenia – at 5.0 percent, in Moldova – at 4.9 percent, in Russia and Kazakhstan – at 4.8 percent each.

The lowest inflation rate for the same five month period has been reported in Azerbaijan – 3.4 percent.

The CIS Interstate Committee for Statistics does not have inflation rates for Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in its report.

Over the report period, an average inflation rate within the Commonwealth of Independent States has been 5.8 percent.  

Local experts say consumer prices in Tajikistan have risen dramatically due to a recent increase in the price of fuel and the U.S. dollar''s rise against the local currency.