Nov. inflation dips to 5.2%

• Lower than 5.5% recorded in Oct. but non-food inflation increased to 1.7% 

Headline inflation as measured by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI, 2013=100)1 decreased to 5.2% in November 2020 from 5.5% in October 2020, the Central Bank said yesterday.  

This was due to the statistical effect of the high base prevailed in November 2019. Meanwhile, Food inflation (Y-o-Y) decreased to 9.4% in November 2020 from 10.6% in October 2020, whereas Non-food inflation (Y-o-Y) increased to 1.7% in November 2020 from 1.5% in October 2020.

The change in the NCPI measured on an annual average basis increased marginally to 6.3% in November 2020 from 6.2% in October 2020.

Monthly change of NCPI recorded at 0.47% in November 2020 mainly due to increases observed in prices of items in both Food and Non-food categories. Moreover, monthly changes of Food and Non-food categories recorded at 0.34% and 0.13%, respectively in November 2020. 

Accordingly, within the Food category, increases were observed mainly in the prices of rice, big onion, coconut and potato during November 2020. Moreover, within the non-food category price of Transport (bus fare) sub-category recorded an increase during the month.

Further, both year-on-year core inflation and annual average core inflation remained unchanged at 4.5% and 4.2%, respectively, in November 2020.