Inflation down to 3.49 percent in Mid-August

Kathmandu / Sept. 26: The consumer price inflation stood at 3.49 per cent in mid-August 2020 compared to 6.95 per cent a year ago.

Food and beverage inflation stood at 5.38 per cent whereas non-food and service inflation stood at 2.04 per cent in the review month, according to the macroeconomic and financial report published by Nepal Rastra Bank Friday.

The price of pulses and legumes, meat and fish and tobacco products rose significantly in the review month compared to mid-July 2019.

The price of vegetables increased by 28.21 per cent in mid-August 2020 compared to a month ago.

In the review month, the Kathmandu Valley, Terai, Hill and Mountain witnessed 3.31 per cent, 4.02 per cent, 2.72 per cent and 4.07 per cent inflation respectively.

These regions had witnessed 8.63 per cent, 6.46 per cent, 6.00 per cent and 5.57 per cent inflation respectively a year ago.

The year on year wholesale price inflation stood at 7.33 per cent in the review month compared to 8.26 per cent a year ago. The yearly wholesale price of consumption goods, intermediate goods and capital goods increased by 7.44 per cent, 8.10 per cent and 2.63 per cent respectively.

The wholesale price of construction materials fell by 2.33 per cent in the review month.

The annual salary and wage rate index increased by 1.34 per cent in the review month. Such growth rate was 13.43 per cent a year ago largely influenced by an increase in the salary of government as well as private sector employees.

In the review month, salary index and wage rate index increased by 1.03 per cent and 1.43 per cent respectively.