Inflation rate jumps to 5.69pc in January
By Lewis Njoka, February 2, 2021
DATA: Inflation rose marginally in the month of January to 5.69 from 5.62 in December last year, a report by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows.
The inflation rate, however, is slightly lower compared to same time last year when it stood at 5.78 per cent.
According to the January Consumer Price Index released by the KNBS, transport prices in the country rose by 1.07 per cent compared to the previous month of December and 14.24 per cent compared to January last year.
“The transport index increased by 1.07 per cent over the same period mainly due to a rise of 4.94 per cent and 0.15 per cent in the retail prices of diesel and petrol, respectively,” reads the CPI index.
Similarly, the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages in January were 7.36 per cent higher compared to same month last year and 1.26 per cent higher than the previous month of December.
“Prices of cooking oil (salad), white bread and cabbages went up by 10.40, 6.55 and 3.39 per cent respectively.
On the other hand, prices of peas (garden, snap and snow) mangoes and tomatoes, decreased by 11.61, 3.25, and 1.54 percent respectively,” reads the CPI index.
The housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels index increased by 0.31 per cent during the month, a change attributed to a 4.22 per cent and 3.18 increase in the cost of kerosene and electricity respectively.
Consumer price index for the month stood at 112.58 up from 111.87 in the month of December 2020, a 0.63 per cent increase.