KATHMANDU, April 12: The consumer price index marginally declined in the past one month during mid-February and mid-March, mainly due to a slowdown in prices of non-food items and services and few food items.

The ‘Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report of Nepal’ unveiled by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Tuesday shows that the year-on-year inflation remained at 7.44 percent in mid-March, compared to the rate of 7.88 percent in mid-February.

According to the NRB report, the food and beverage inflation stood at 5.64 percent, down from 6.19 percent in the previous month. Although the overall index in this sub-category shows a decline, the index of cereal grains and their products inclined from 12.39 percent to 14.35 percent. Likewise, the price index of spices also rose from 8.04 percent to 10.88 percent.

On the other hand, the non-food and service inflation fell from 9.22 percent to 8.87 percent. Under this category, the year-on-year index of transportation dropped to 13.23 percent from 15.58 percent in the previous month. The price index of furnishing and household equipment also fell to 8.79 percent from nine percent.

Region-wise, consumer price inflation in the mountain was recorded the highest at 8.07 percent. Similarly, the price inflation was recorded at 7.95 percent in the Kathmandu Valley, 7.50 percent in Terai and 6.67 percent in the hill areas. 

 
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