Consumer price moderates

The price hike has moderated in the first four months of the current fiscal year.
"The year-on-year inflation as measured by the consumer price index stood at 8.4 per cent in mid-November from 9.1 per cent in the same period last year, due to price index of food and beverage group that grew by 13.3 per cent," according to the microeconomic report of first four months of the current fiscal year released here by the central bank.
Prices of Spices, sugar and sweets, milk products, and meat have almost doubled in mid-November.
"The price index of food and beverage group grew by 13.3 per cent and the price index of non-food and services group increased by 4.5 per centagainst the increase of 16.6 per cent and 3.1 per cent respectively in the same period last year," the report said.
Of the items under food and beverage group, price indices of spices sub-group increased by a whopping 34.9 per cent compared to an increase of 19 per cent in the same period last year. "Similarly, the price indices of sugar and sweets, which had increased by 50.3 per cent in the same period of the last year, have increased by 28.8 per cent and the price indices of vegetables, cereals grains and their products, and restaurant and hotel increased by 15.9 per cent, 15.4 per cent and 15 per cent against their respective increase of 45.4 per cent, 7.6 per cent and 19.7 per cent in the same period last year." it said.
Meanwhile, the price index of milk product, meat and fish and tobacco increased by 14.3 per cent, 12.9 per cent and 8.1 per cent respectively, which had increased by 8.6 per cent, 21.3 per cent and 11.7 per cent respectively in the same period last year. But the price index of legume varieties declined by 9.8 per cent against an increase of 28.9 per cent last year.
"Within the group of non-food and services, the price index of clothing and footwear increased by 10 per cent against last year's increase of 8.2 per cent," the analysis said, adding that the price indices of transport and housing and utilities increased by 7.8 per cent and 7.4 per cent, respectively against their decline of 8.7 per cent and 3.6 per cent in the same period last year.

Valley most expensive
KATHMANDU: Region-wise, the price index increased highest in Kathmandu Valley by 11.5 per cent in Mid-November against an increase of 8.5 per cent in the same period last year. However, the prices in the Hills has increased by 9.4 per cent followed by 5.8 per cent in Terai comapared to 9.4 per cent and 9.3 per cent in the same period of last year.