How food, electricity, fuel prices changed between March and April

The month to month Food and Non-Alcoholic Drinks’ Index increased by 1.73 percent between March 2021 and April 2021.

Also Read: April inflation in Kenya cools to 5.8pc

A statement from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics released on April 30 said food inflation was mainly attributed to increase in prices of some food items, which outweighed the decrease in prices of other foodstuffs.

“For instance, prices of tomatoes, cabbages and potatoes increased by 8.50, 5.68 and 3.85 per cent, respectively. On the other hand, prices of sugar and oranges decreased by 0.56 per cent and 0.06 per cent, respectively,” KNBS Director General Macdonald Obudho said in the statement.

He said year on year food inflation rose by 6.42 per cent between April 2020 and April 2021.

According to KNBS, the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ Index increased by 0.35 per cent between March 2021 and April 2021.

“This was mainly attributed to increase in prices of charcoal arid house rent for a one-bedroom unit by 1.83 per cent and 0.05 per cent, respectively,” Mr. Obudho said.

Below is a table showing the change in national average retail prices of selected commodities:

Cost of living cooled off for the first time since October, with the rate of inflation in Kenya easing to 5.76 per cent in April from a higher 5.9 per cent in March.

The first cool down in consumer prices inside six months has been anchored on a hold in increments of fuel prices by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) on April 14.

“The revision to fuel prices announced in mid-April were cancelled providing a benefit to the transport index, which has had a significant impact (on inflation) in the recent past,” KNBS said.

Subsequently, Citizen Digital has established the Ministry of Petroleum is in the process of effective a petroleum price stabilization mechanism with details to its operation expected before the next mid-month fuel cost review on May 14.

According to a letter by the Ministry to oil marketers Chief Executive Officers dated April 20, oil marketers gave up part of their supplier margins for the period April 15 to May 14 and will be compensated by the National Treasury for the haircut taken.

The effective role out of the price stabilization mechanism will likely serve to hold down inflationary pressures emanating from fuel price increases.

During the month, the cost of petrol, diesel and kerosene averaged Ksh.123.66, Ksh.108.58 and Ksh.98.78 around the country, the same mean as March.