Consumer price inflation moderated to 4.82 pc in mid-March: NRB

KATHMANDU: The macroeconomic and financial situation report released by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Thursday shows that consumer price inflation moderated to 4.82% in mid-March 2024, a significant decrease from 7.44% recorded the previous year.

The inflation rate for food and beverages was reported at 5.94%, while the non-food and service category saw a lower inflation rate of 3.95% during the review period.

Under the Food and Beverage Category, y-o-y price index of spices sub-category increased 28.17%; pulses and legumes 11.22%; milk products and eggs 7.11%; cereal grains and their products 7.35%; and vegetable 14.07% in the review month.

The y-o-y price index of ghee and oil subcategory decreased 11.79% in the review month.

Under the Non-Food and Services Category, the year-on-year price index for the recreation and culture sub-category jumped by 12.61%, miscellaneous goods and services increased by 10.67%, and education costs rose by 7.31%. Conversely, the transportation sub-category saw a decrease of 1.15%.

Regionally, the year-on-year consumer price inflation rates for the Kathmandu Valley, Tarai, Hill, and Mountain regions were 4.88%, 4.42%, 5.49%, and 4.42% respectively. These figures represent a decrease from the previous year's rates of 7.95%, 7.50%, 6.67%and 8.07% respectively.