Central Bank reveals Uzbekistan’s income expectations and spending trends

The survey also found that 68% of participants rely primarily on official wages as their main source of income.

“The share of individuals earning income from scholarships, pensions, dividends, and deposits has increased, whereas the proportion of those making money from entrepreneurship and household farming has slightly declined,” the review states.

Survey results indicate that employees in the café-restaurant, retail, manufacturing, science-education, and transportation sectors expect the highest salary increases in the near future. In contrast, professionals in the information technology and mass media industries have more modest expectations regarding income growth.

In terms of expenses, 77% of respondents anticipate an increase in their spending over the next 12 months. Meanwhile, 15.2% expect their expenditures to remain unchanged, while 7.8% believe their spending will decrease.

According to the Central Bank, all income groups in the survey expect to allocate most of their spending toward housing, education, and automobiles.

When analyzed by age group:

-  Young people (under 30) are spending more on education, home renovations, household appliances, and electronic devices.

-  Middle-aged respondents (30-50 years old) are primarily focused on improving their living conditions. Their expenses are mainly directed toward home renovations, car purchases, weddings, and family celebrations. Additionally, children’s education and healthcare costs are significant financial priorities for this group.

-  Older individuals (50+ years old) are spending less on major purchases, while healthcare expenses are rising. Among this group, spending is decreasing at a faster rate compared to other respondents.

Respondents earning 7-10 million UZS and those with an income of 15-20 million UZS or more expect their expenses to rise. Meanwhile, individuals earning 5-7 million UZS are adopting a more cautious approach to spending.

The proportion of respondents planning to increase their loan debt over the next 12 months has risen slightly to 57%.

Additionally, 62.3% of participants expect their savings to grow, while 23.9% anticipate no change in their savings, and 13.8% expect a decline.