Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-03-01 01:15:19
The latest report published by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reveals a decrease in the prices of several essential items in February 2024 compared to January 2024. The report highlighted various foodstuffs that experienced a decline in prices over the specified period.
For instance, the price of a packet of milk decreased by 0.2 per cent, while the price of carrots went down by 0.4 per cent. Additionally, a kilogram of beans recorded a 0.6 per cent price decrease. The prices of a two-kilogram packet of sifted maize flour and fortified maize flour also saw a reduction of 1 per cent and 1.5 per cent, respectively. Moreover, the prices of a loose kilogram of maize grain and maize flour decreased by 3.4 per cent and 1.6 per cent, respectively.
In the non-food category, the prices of a litre of Petrol, Diesel, and Kerosene all decreased by 0.5 per cent. Furthermore, the prices of 50 Kilowatts and 200 Kilowatts of electricity dropped by 9.3 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively.
On the other hand, some basic items experienced an increase in prices, such as spinach and kale (sukuma wiki) which rose by 3.9 per cent and 3.4 per cent, respectively. Cooking gas recorded the highest increase in the month-to-month category, followed by spinach, kale (sukuma wiki), wheat flour, non-aromatic white rice, potatoes, and beef.
The report also mentioned that the prices of carrots, sugar, fresh unpacked milk, kale, onions, spinach, and mangoes showed a consistent increase over the past twelve months. Additionally, KNBS reported a decrease in the inflation rate from 6.9 per cent in January 2024 to 6.3 per cent in February 2024.
This drop in inflation was primarily attributed to factors such as the transport index, basic non-food items, and food and non-alcoholic beverages. Matatu fares saw an increase of 10.8 per cent during the review period, following the gradual rise in fuel prices. Housing, water, electricity, and gas also posted a price increase of 8.4 per cent, while the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages went up by 6.9 per cent.
“The rise in annual inflation was mainly due to an increase in prices of commodities under the Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP) divisions,” as stated in the report.
Overall, the report provides valuable insights into the fluctuating prices of essential items in Kenya and the factors that contribute to changes in inflation rates.
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