Annual inflation in Uzbekistan edged down to 8.35% y/y in February from 8.58% y/y in January, according to the State Statistics Agency. Monthly inflation in February was 0.64% m/m. The statistics bureau also stated that food inflation in the second month of the year was 8.7% y/y. The price of rice increased by 31.3% y/y. Beef and granulated sugar prices rose by 9% y/y and 10.1% y/y, respectively. In contrast, non-food goods and services were up 7.4% y/y and 9.1% y/y, respectively. Utility tariffs saw moderate increases in terms of hot water (1.1% y/y) and electricity (2.2% y/y) tariffs. Howeve…