According to the half-yearly Consumer Price Index (CPI) issued by Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank, the price of grain and cereal products which command a whopping weight of 18 percent in CPI´s basket, recorded a rise of 16.5 percent during the first half of the current fiscal year against 7.3 percent of the same period last year. Rice and rice products that carry a heavy weight of 14.16 percent saw a robust growth of 20 percent during the period, said the release.
Among major food items, sugar and related products witnessed the highest price rise of 37.3 percent against the fall of 14.2 percent during the same period. Likewise, the price of pulses also recorded a rise of 25.6 percent against 15 percent increase during the same period last year. Likewise, meat, fish and eggs which command 5.21 percent weightage, also witnessed an increment of 22.5 percent. The price of vegetables and fruits also increased by 13.3 percent during the period.
Similarly, the prices of non-food items and services that include transport fares rose by 25.8 percent during the period. Non-food items and services have 46.8 percent weightage in the CPI. The robust rise in transport fares is unusual, especially at a time the government has lowered fuel prices at least twice in 2009, said a commentator.
Similarly, the prices of fuel, electricity and water went up by 12 percent, while the prices of tobacco and related products increased by 15.1 percent, whereas such increments last year were half of those witnessed during the current fiscal year.
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