Inflation soars to 33.8% in March, food inflation rockets to 45%

Tuesday, 24 May 2022 01:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Headline inflation, as measured by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the National Consumer Price

Index increased to 33.8% in April 2022 from 21.5% in March 2022.

This increase in Y- o-Y inflation was driven by the monthly increases of both Food and Non-Food categories. Subsequently, Food inflation (Y-o-Y) increased to 45.1% in April 2022 from 29.5% in March 2022, while Non-Food inflation (Y-o-Y) increased to 23.9% in April 2022 from 14.5% in March 2022.

Monthly change of NCPI compiled by Department of Census and Statistics recorded at 10.22% in April 2022 due to price increases observed in items of both Food and Non-Food categories which were 6.03% and 4.19%, respectively.

Within the Food category, increases were observed in prices of rice, milk powder, dhal, sugar and bread.

Further, prices of items in the Non-Food category recorded increases mainly due to price increases observed in the Transport (Petrol, bus fare and diesel), Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuel (Materials for maintenance, Housing rent and LP Gas), Health (Fees to private medical practices), Education (Tuition fees), and Restaurant and Hotels sub-categories during the month.

The annual average inflation rose to 13.0% in April 2022 from 10.6% in March 2022.

The core inflation (Y-o-Y), which reflects the underlying inflation in the economy increased to 27.9% in April 2022 from 17.3% in March 2022, while annual average core inflation increased to 10.2% in April 2022 from 8.2% in March 2022.