Friday, November 5, 2010

Consumer price moderates

The price has moderated to 8.6 per cent in the second month (Bhadra) of the current fiscal year, according to the central bank.
The year on year (y-o-y) inflation as measured by the consumer price index (2005-06 =100) stood at 8.6 per cent in mid-September compared to 9.1 per cent in the same period of last year, said the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) report.
The price index of food and beverages group increased by 12.2 per cent whereas the index of non-food and services group rose by 5.6 per cent in the new series (2005-06=100). "The indices of these groups had increased by 17.1 per cent and 2.8 per cent respectively during the same period of the last fiscal," the report said, adding that of the items in the food and beverage group, price indices of spices sub-group increased by a whopping rate of 45.4 per cent compared to an increase of 11.4 per cent in the same period last year.
Similarly, the price indices of sugar and sweets, restaurant and hotel, milk products and egg as well as cereals grains and their products sub-groups increased respectively by 30.5 per cent, 17.8 per cent, 16.8 per cent and 16.7 per cent against an increase of 40.3 per cent, 24.6 per cent, 6.3 per cent and 5.1 per cent during the same period of last fiscal. "The price index of vegetables, which had jumped by 52.9 per cent in the previous year increased marginally by 1.4 per cent. The price index of legume varieties, ghee and oil and fruits also declined."
Within the group of non-food and services, the price index of housing and utilities increased by 10.1 per cent which had decreased by 3.8 per cent in the same period of the last year.
Accordingly, the index of clothing and footwear, health and education increased respectively by 10.4 per cent, 9.4 per cent and 5.8 per cent compared to increase of eight per cent, 3.4 per cent and 10.9 per cent during the same period last year. The price index of transport increased by 8.2 per cent whereas the price index of communication decreased by 6.2 per cent.
Region-wise, Kathmandu Valley is the most expensive place as the price index of the Valley rose by 10.6 per cent followed by 9.7 per cent in Hills and 6.6 per cent in Terai. Their inflation stood at 10 per cent, nine per cent and 8.6 per cent during the same period of last fiscal.
Similarly, the overall y-o-y salary and wage rate index rose by 15.6 per cent against increase of 20.8 per cent in the same period last year. "Of the salary and wage rate indices, the salary index remained unchanged as against the increase of 32.8 per cent in the same period last year."
The central bank attributed the overall salary and wage rate index increament mainly to increase in wage rate index. The wage rate index increased by 20.9 per cent against an increase of 17.1 per cent in the same period last year.
The wages of agricultural, industrial and construction laborers increased by 30.6 per cent, 5.6 per cent and 16.5 per cent respectively compared to increase of 18.1 per cent, 15.8 per cent and 16.4 per cent respectively in the same period last fiscal year.

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