NAIROBI: Kenya’s overall monthly inflation declined marginally to 6.62 per cent in July from 7.03 percent in June due to drop in several food items, the country’s statistics bureau has said.
“During the review period, Food and Non-Alcoholic Drinks’ Index decreased by 0.6 per cent due to observed decreases in prices of several food items outweighing the increases,” Kenya National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
However, the month-on-month non-food-non-fuel (NFNF) inflation increased to 4.6 percent from 4.2 percent during the period.
According to the bureau, Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ Index increased by 0.76. This was mainly due to cost increases in respect common cooking fuels and other household utilities.
During the same review period, the Transport index increased by 0.93 percent mainly due to sought rise in the cost of petrol and diesel.
Kenya’s month-on-month overall inflation increased to 7.03 percent in June from 6.9 per cent in May, mainly reflecting increases in fuel prices, pass-through effects from the weakening Kenyan shilling against the U.S. dollar, and moderate demand pressures in the economy.
Inflation has remained within the government’s target range, declining to below 7 per cent in May partly due to lower prices of some domestic food crops.
The bureau obtained the data from selected retail outlets in 25 data collection zones located in Nairobi and 13 other urban centers in the country.