Strong rise in food prices, which soared by 17.8 percent from 16 percent of a month ago, continued to jeopardize family budget of general consumers. During the month, people also witnessed a substantial growth in the prices of non-food items and services. [break]
Shows statistics of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the prices of non-food and service items jumped by 3.7 percent, compared to just over 2 percent of a month ago. Of the food items, prices of sugar and sugar related products soared by the highest rate of 56.9 percent in mid-December, whereas it had grown by 35.9 percent in the same period last year.
The price of vegetables and fruits too jumped by 39.3 percent, pulses by 34.6 percent, spices by 28.4 percent and meat, fish and eggs increased by 21.9 percent during the month. In the same period last year, vegetables and fruits prices had increased by mere 3.4 percent, pulses by 25.7 percent, spices by 10.1 percent and meat, fish and eggs by 21.5 percent.
Only products wherein consumers are bearing moderate growth in prices are grains and cereal products. “The price of this sub-group increased by 9.9 percent, whereas it had gone up by 18 percent in the same period last year,” shows the NRB report.
Similarly, within the group of non-food and services, the price of tobacco and related products increased at the rate of 11.6 percent during the period. The cost of transport and communications, interestingly, declined by 7.8 percent in mid-December.
Region-wise, the prices rose the most in Tarai by 12.3 percent, followed by 11.8 percent in Hills and 9.3 percent in Kathmandu Valley during the period.
Likewise, the overall year-to-year salary and wage rate index rose by 17.4 percent in mid-December, compared to a rise of 14.6 percent a year ago.
Of the salary and wage rate indices, the salary index increased by 18 percent -- thanks to the increase in basic salary and allowances of civil servants and its simultaneous effect on salary of the private sector.
The wage rate too increased by 17.3 percent in mid-December, compared to 15.3 percent of the same period last year.
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