KATHMANDU: Consumer prices in Nepal rose by 2.77% in the first ten months of the current fiscal year 2024/25, according to the latest macroeconomic update released by Nepal Rastra Bank.
This means that an item priced at Rs 100 ten months ago now costs Rs 102.77. While inflation continues, the pace has significantly slowed compared to the 4.40% rise seen in the same period last year.
The year-on-year inflation rate for food and beverages stood at 1.52%, while non-food and services rose by 3.45%. This marks a notable decline in food-related inflation compared to last year’s 6.41%, though the non-food segment saw a modest increase from 3.09% in the previous year.
Within the food and beverage group, prices of ghee and oil surged by 11.08%, fruits by 6.15%, lentils and pulses by 5.17%, and non-alcoholic beverages by 4.70%. On the other hand, prices of vegetables dropped by 8.11%, spices by 2.20%, and fish and meat by 0.48%.
In the non-food and services category, miscellaneous goods and services rose the most at 9.04%, followed by education at 5.88%, clothing and footwear at 5.23%, household furnishings at 3.99%, and restaurant and hotel services at 3.16%.
Regionally, rural areas saw a higher inflation rate of 3.21% compared to 2.61% in urban centers. Among provinces, Koshi recorded the highest annual point-to-point inflation at 4.29%, while Lumbini saw the lowest at 2.15%.
Inflation in Kathmandu Valley was 2.64%, equal to the Terai, while the Hill region recorded 2.65% and the Mountain region topped 4.01%.
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