Consumer prices in Uzbekistan rose by 10.5 percent year-on-year in March, the central bank said.

On monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.8 percent. Prices for major consumer goods and services rose by 1.5 percent, while food prices increased by 2.5 percent, it said.

According to the bank, external economic risks and uncertainties, as well as long holidays in March that affected economic activity have resulted in an accelerated inflation rate.

Increased prices for buckwheat, cheese, sunflower oil and sugar in exporting countries, mainly Russia and Kazakhstan have been putting additional pressure on food product prices in Uzbekistan.

Since the beginning of the year, in domestic wholesale markets sunflower oil has risen by 25 percent resulting in the increase of domestically produced cotton-seed oil by 12 percent, the bank said. Prices for medicines have also risen amid interruptions in the supply of pharmaceuticals from Ukraine.