COLOMBO: Inflation, as measured by the change in the Colombo Consumers Price Index (CCPI) (2006/07=100), which is computed by the Department of Census and Statistics, remained unchanged at 0.1 percent as recorded in the previous month, on an year-on-year basis, in April 2015. Annual average inflation declined from 2.5 percent in March 2015 to 2.1 percent.
CCPI increased by 0.2 percent from March to April 2015. The increase in prices of items in the Non-food category during the month contributed mainly towards this increase.
Within the Non-food category, prices in the sub categories of Clothing and Footwear; Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and other Fuels; Furnishing, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance; Health; and Miscellaneous Goods and Services recorded increases. Prices in the sub groups of Recreation and Culture; Transport; Education; and Communication remained unchanged during the month.
However, moderation of food prices during the month eased inflationary pressure in April 2015.
Prices of many vegetable varieties, rice, some varieties of fresh fish and dried fish, green chilies, red onions and coconuts declined in April 2015, compared to the prices prevailed in March 2015. Nevertheless, prices of chicken, beef, coconut oil, potatoes, limes, big onions and some varieties of fruits recorded marginal increases during the month.
Core inflation, which reflects the underlying inflation in the economy, increased to 2.4 percent in April 2015, from 1.4 percent in March 2015 on an year-on-year basis.
Annual average core inflation declined to 2.9 percent in April 2015, from 3.0 percent in March 2015.
