Inflation on the rise with deficit balance of payments

KATHMANDU: Inflation and balance of payments deficit have increased in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.

According to economic and financial report released today by Nepal Rastra Bank for the first nine months of the current fiscal year, the annual consumer inflation of the country remained 7.28 percent last Chait (mid-March to mid-April) against 6.14 percent in the corresponding month of the previous year.

Likewise, the balance of payment stood at a deficit of Rs. 268.26 billion during the review period.

The total foreign exchange reserves decreased by 16.5 percent to Rs. 1,167.92 billion in mid-April 2022.

Out of the total foreign exchange reserves, the reserves of Nepal Rastra Bank decreased by 17.9 percent and of other banks and financial institutions by 5.1 percent.

Total merchandise exports increased by 69.4 percent including exports to India and other countries that increased by 86.9 percent and 25.5 percent respectively.

However, exports to China declined by 21.8 percent. Similarly, total merchandise imports increased by 32.0 percent during the review period.

Such imports had increased by 13.1 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Imports from India, China and other countries increased by 24.4 percent, 28.6 percent and 59.2 percent respectively.