The FINANCIAL — Verdict: FactCheck concludes that Otar Kakhidze’s statement is MOSTLY TRUE.
Resume: Price levels in Georgia have been stable in the last years. As of October 2018, the annual inflation rate stands at 2.3% which is 0.7 of a percentage point less as compared to the targeted inflation. Therefore, there is no solid ground to underline problems caused by an increased general level of consumer prices. However, the price hike on certain groups of consumer goods has been higher as compared to others. For example, the price hike on pharmaceuticals is 12% and on the usage of vehicles is 10%, respectively to the same period of 2017 year. At the same time, the prices on food and non-alcoholic beverages have increased with an annual growth rate of only 0.2%. Moreover, if food prices are taken separately, the growth in their numbers is zero.
In regard to Otar Kakhidze’s emphasis on the low economic growth rate, Georgia’s annual average economic growth rate constituted 3.7% in the last five years which is indeed an unsatisfactory performance for a developing country like Georgia. Therefore, the real gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, as an indirect indicator of income, is increasing albeit at a slow rate.
Analysis
European Georgia – Movement for Freedom MP, Oto Kakhidze, stated that prices on every essential consumption item, including fuel, medication and foodstuffs, have increased whilst the economic growth rate is very low.
Usually, in the absence of an economic crisis/recession, the price level tends to increase and the inflation rate is higher than 0. An inflation rate which is neither very high nor very low is acceptable for the economy. The National Bank of Georgia determines the targeted level of inflation. The figure is 3% for 2018. As of October, the country’s actual annual inflation constitutes 2.3% and is 0.7 of a percentage point less as compared to the targeted level. Therefore, it is groundless to emphasise a general increase in price levels.
Graph 1: Consumer Price Level – Annual Inflation
Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia
At the same time, there might be certain groups where changes in price levels substantially deviate from the general trend even if the general price level is stable. In regard to changes in the price levels on certain groups of goods, the table below illustrates that prices have increased on alcoholic beverages, tobacco, healthcare and transport in October 2018 as compared to other goods and as compared to the same period of the previous year. Meanwhile, prices decreased on garments and footwear as well as on communication in the same period.
Table 1: Changes in Prices on Groups of Goods
Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia
Of the aforementioned goods, of note is the increase in prices on pharmaceuticals and fuel – the prices on goods relating to healthcare and transportation increased by 6.1% and 6.5%, respectively, as compared to October 2017. The price hike on pharmaceuticals per se is 12% and on the use of vehicles is 10%. At the same time, prices on food and non-alcoholic beverages have not increased and their annual growth is 0.2% whilst the growth of prices for food taken separately is zero.
Graph 2: Economic Growth Rate and GDP Per Capita
Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia
Developing countries usually have a much higher economic growth rate than developed nations. In the last five years, Georgia’s annual average economic growth rate was 3.7% which is a very low figure for a developing country like Georgia. Therefore, the real GDP per capita, as an indirect indicator of income, is increasing albeit at a slow rate.
