Inflation continues to gallop

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Year-on-Year inflation in April 2022 had reached 33.8%, the Department of Census and Statistics said in its National Consumer Price Index publication for the month. The inflation for the month of March was 21.5%.

The department said the increase in inflation was mainly due to the higher food and non-food prices.

“The Year-on-Year inflation of the food group increased to 45.1% in April 2022 from 29.5% in March 2022 and the Year-on-Year inflation of the non-food group increased to 23.9% in April 2022 from 14.5% in March 2022,” the Department said.

In the non-food category there were significant price increases in ‘Transport’ (4.52%), ‘Restaurant and Hotels’ (1.73%), ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other fuels’ (1.65%), ‘Health’ 0.17%A ‘Furnishing, Household equipment and Routine household maintenance’ (0.79%), ‘Alcoholic beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics’ (0.77%),’Education’ (0.64%), ‘Miscellaneous goods and services’ (0.64%), Clothing and Footwear (0.57%), and ‘Recreation and Culture’ (0.24%). There was also a slight price increase in ‘Communication’ expenses.