December inflation dips marginally to 4.2%

December inflation dipped marginally to 4.2% from 4.8% in November 2015, according to the Census and Statistics Department data released yesterday.  

The Department of Census and Statistics releasing the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) for the month of December 2015 estimated it as 113.2 for that month. This shows an increase of 1.2 index points and also a percentage of 1.1 compared to the previous month’s (November) index of 112.0. 

This change is due to the value change increases of food items by 0.9% and non-food items by 0.1% respectively, the statement said.

For December 2015, the value change increase of food items was mainly due to the price increases in vegetables, green chilies, rice, fresh fish, yoghurt, eggs, coconuts, garlic and red onions compared to the previous month (November). However decrease in value changes were recorded for big onions, limes, potatoes, sprats (dry), chicken, dhal (Mysore), mangoes, banana and milk powder due to its price decreases compared to the previous month (November).

The nonfood commodity groups have increased by 0.1% in December 2015 compared to November 2015. This was mainly due to the value change increases in non-food commodity groups of ‘Alcoholic Beverages Tobacco and Narcotics’ and ‘Transport’. The value change increase in ‘Transport’ group has been totally due to the increase of airline fee in December 2015 compared to the previous month (November). 

A decrease in value change was reported for ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ group and it has mainly been due to the decline of prices of LP gas and kerosene oil in December 2015 compared to the previous month (November).