Kenya’s Inflation Goes Up by 0.7pc

Consumer prices in Kenya advanced 5.61 per cent year-on-year in February of 2015 due to higher food cost.

It is the first rise in 6 months.

Additional upward pressure came from clothing and footwear (+2.86 percent), furnishing and household equipment (+ 2.72 percent) and housing, water, electricity and gas (+1.09 percent).  

The only monthly decrease registered was transports (-0.96 per cent), mainly from notable reductions in the pump prices of petrol and diesel. 

In February last year, inflation was 6.86 per cent. 

UGANDA INFLATION

Kenya’s East Africa’s counterpart Uganda also recorded inflation in March.

According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics, this rise was a result of increase in non-food prices.

According to statistics, the inflation went up by 1.9 per cent from a revised figure of 1.6 per cent last month while the core inflation rose to 3.7 per cent from a revised 3.3 per cent in February.

The bureau now says the core inflation rose which excludes food, fuel, electricity and metered water rose after an increase in prices in firewood, clothing and cement.

Ugandan Central Bank Governor, Emmanuel Mutebile however says that the bank would keep the lending rate unchanged at 11 percent.

The Bureau of Statics further indicated that the overall inflation rose by 1.5 per cent from a revised 0.7 per cent in February.