Introduction of Kazakhstan to the Customs Union has not affected inflation indicators. The Minister of Finance of Kazakhstan, Bolat Zhamishev, informed during an online-conference, the agency reports.

According to B. Zhamishev, "a special methodology of the International Monetary Fund is used to measure inflation. Each country increases the prices on the basis of a consumer's basket."

"The consumer's basket structure depends on the level of development of this country. The consumption structure in our country in large part is presented by foodstuff, utilities, and to lesser degree long-lived goods. As import of articles of food of the Russian and Belarus manufacture have not been taxed, there was no influence."

"Clearly that the prices have grown on the goods from the far abroad countries sold in expensive hypermarkets. The prices there may grow. The main part of the population here do not shop in expensive hypermarkets and, as a whole, the basic part of our consumer's basket - grocery basket - after introduction to the Customs Union simply could not change," the Minister of Finance said.

Kazakhstan Today