Inflation dips to 3.9% in April

• Food-based inflation decreases to 9% in April from 9.6% in previous month

Headline inflation, as measured by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index, decreased to 3.9% in April 2021 from 4.1% in March 2021, the Central Bank said yesterday. 

This was driven by monthly decreases of prices of items in the Food category. 

Meanwhile, Food inflation (Y-o-Y) decreased to 9% in April from 9.6% in March, while Non-Food inflation (Y-o-Y) remained unchanged at 1.8% in April.

The change in the CCPI measured on an annual average basis decreased marginally to 3.9% in April from 4% in March.

Monthly change of CCPI recorded a marginal decline in April. This was due to price decreases observed in items of the Food category.

 Within the Food category, prices of coconut, vegetables, red onion and big onion decreased in April. Meanwhile, prices of items in the Non-Food category recorded an increase during the month mainly due to price increase observed in the Transport (lubricant oil) sub-category.

The core inflation (Y-o-Y), which reflects the underlying inflation in the economy, decreased marginally to 3% in April from 3.1% in March. Meanwhile, annual average core inflation remained unchanged at 3% in April.