However, the central bank has attributed this ease in inflation to a drop in the prices of non-food items and services only. The prices of food items continued to soar during the period as well, adding financial burden to general consumers.
“Mainly the prices of sugar and sugar related products increased by a whopping 49.6 percent during the period,” NRB said in its statement. The prices of vegetables and fruits too went up by 47.2 percent during the period, whereas the same had declined by about 11 percent in the same period last year.
Similarly, the prices of meat, fish and eggs also increased by 32.8 percent and pulses soared to 31.7 percent during the first month of the current fiscal year, compared to the same month last year. The prices of grains and cereal products also witnessed an increment of 5.8 percent.
Region-wise, commodity prices recorded biggest rise in the Kathmandu Valley, followed by Tarai and Hills. Last year, the respective rates were 13.5 percent, 13.1 percent and 12.4 percent.
However, inflation during the period created little problems for the salaried employees and wage earners this time round because during salary went up by some 33 percent and wages too grew by 18.9 percent during the period.
According to the central bank, wages of agricultural, industrial and construction laborers increased by 20.5 percent, 15.8 percent and 20.1 percent respectively during the period.
These growth rates were higher than that recorded in the same period last year.
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