Consumer inflation rises again; ghee-oil and fruits the costliest

According to Nepal Rastra Bank's latest report, annual point-to-point consumer inflation reached about 6.3 percent in the month of Bhadra. In the same month last year, the rate was only about 2 percent.

The central bank released the economic situation for the first two months of the current fiscal year 2083/84 on Thursday. Inflation, which stood at about 6 percent in Shrawan, climbed further in Bhadra. The average inflation for Shrawan and Bhadra combined is about 6.2 percent, compared to about 1.8 percent in the same period last year.

The bank has targeted keeping average inflation within about 5.5 percent this year. Inflation in the food and beverage group reached about 7.8 percent. Within this group, ghee and oil prices rose the most, by about 16.5 percent.

Fruit prices rose nearly 16 percent, and sugar products rose about 12 percent. Meat, fish and vegetables rose about 7 percent, while spices rose about 6.7 percent.

Among non-food items, transport costs rose about 13 percent. Alcoholic beverages rose about 9 percent, and clothing and footwear rose about 7 percent. Furnishing and household equipment prices rose about 6 percent, while tobacco products rose about 5.5 percent. The inflationary pressure appears higher in rural areas compared to urban areas.