Monday, May 24, 2021

Inflation up to 5.5% in April 2021

Headline inflation, as measured by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI, 2013=100), increased to 5.5% in April 2021 from 5.1% in March 2021.

This was mainly due to the statistical effect of the low base that prevailed in April 2020. Meanwhile, Food inflation (Y-o-Y) increased to 9.7% in April 2021 from 8.8% in March 2021 and Non-Food inflation (Y-o-Y) increased to 2.2% in April 2021 from 2.0% in March 2021. The NCPI, measured on an annual average basis, remained unchanged at 5.3% in April 2021. Monthly change of NCPI recorded a marginal increase in April 2021.

This was due to price increases observed in items of both food and non-food categories. Accordingly, within the food category, increases were observed mainly in the prices of coconut oil, fresh fish and fresh fruits during April 2021.

However, prices of coconut and vegetables recorded a decrease during the month. Moreover, prices of items in the non-food category recorded an increase during the month due to price increases observed in clothing and footwear (clothing), transport (lubricant oil) and miscellaneous goods and services (hair cutting and shaving charges) sub-categories.

Further, year-on-year core inflation decreased to 4.1% in April 2021 from 4.3% in March 2021, while annual average core inflation increased marginally to 4.4% in April 2021 from 4.3% in March 2021.

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