A shopper at a Shell Petrol Station Tuskys convenience store in Kangemi on Waiyaki Way in Nairobi in October. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU
What you need to know:
Inflation rose from 6.72 per cent in October to 7.32 per cent in November — marking the highest level since August last year when it stood at 8.36 per cent.
The rising inflation is unlikely to spur authorities to increase interest rate given the costs of living measure is within government targets of between 3.5-7.5 per cent.
Rising food prices helped push up the inflation rate to a 15-month high, denying consumers the benefits of lower fuel and electricity costs.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) data shows that inflation rose from 6.72 per cent in October to 7.32 per cent in November — marking the highest level since August last year when it stood at 8.36 per cent.
Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 12.67 per cent from the same month last year while transport prices edged downwards by 1.25 per cent on lower petrol costs.
The rising inflation is unlikely to spur authorities to increase interest rate given the costs of living measure is within government targets of between 3.5-7.5 per cent.
“Between October and November, food and non-alcoholic drinks’ index increased by 1.08 per cent,” KNBS says in a statement.
Irish potato rose to Sh78 a kilogramme in November from Sh73 the previous month and Sh46 last year November, piling pressure on households that rely on the food item.
A kilogramme of tomatoes was up to Sh107 last month from Sh100 in October and Sh83 same month last year while a kilo of onions rose to Sh124 from Sh121 in October and Sh90 last year November.
The rising food prices denied households the benefits of lower prices of electricity, cooking gas and fuel.
Consumers using 200 unit (kilowatt hours) of electricity per month paid Sh3,445 in November, down from Sh3,672 in October and Sh3,641 last year in November while those using 50 units paid Sh545, down from Sh602 in October and Sh554 last year.
Cooking gas prices were down to Sh2,386 from Sh2,401 in October and Sh3,033 last year.
Petrol, used by owners of personal cars, was down Sh2 to Sh91 a litre while diesel used to run trucks, industries, thermal plants and agricultural machinery was down Sh2 to Sh80 a litre.
In neighbouring Uganda, inflation rose to 9.1 per cent year-on-year in November from 8.8 per cent a month earlier.
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