December inflation rate drops to 5.73 pc from 5.80

NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 31 – Kenya’s year-on-year inflation in November increased to 5.73 percent compared to 5.80 percent in October 2020. 

During a similar period in 2020, the inflation stood at  5.46 percent

Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics(KNBS) reveals that the Consumer Price Index(CPI) in November was up by 0.91 percent from 117.86 in October 2020 to 112.57  in November 2020.

During the period under review, the food and non-alcoholic beverages index increased by 1.68  percent which was attributed to an increase in prices of some food items which outweighed others.

“This was a net increase in prices of several food items which outweighed decreases in prices of others,” reads the KNBS statement.

Onions, white bread, cooking oil and carrots were some of the major commodities whose prices increased by 7.46 4.71, 4.62 and 3.82 respectively.

However, a decrease was noted in other food items such as mangoes, Njahi, peas  and lemons which declined by 0.55, 0.38 2.10 and 4.11 percent respectively.

During the same period, the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels’ index increased by 0.60 percent in November 2021.

“This was mainly attributed to increase in prices of electricity (50 kilowatts) and electricity (200 kilowatts) that went up by 2.62 per cent and 1.90 per cent, respectively,” said KNBS Director General Macdonald Obudho.

At the same time, the transport index increased by 1.11  percent mainly due to increase in bus fares  of country public  service vehicles.