Continuous Rise in Food Prices Pushes October Inflation to 6.47pc

Kenya’s inflation rose to 6.47 percent in October, from 6.34 percent in September attributed to the continuous rise in food prices according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).

In a statement on Monday, KNBS said that on a month-on-month basis, the inflation was at 0.62 percent, compared with September’s 0.34 percent.

Between September and October 2016, Food and Non-Alcoholic Drinks’ Index increased by 0.96 per cent  attributed to increase in prices of several food items which outweighed the decreases.

The Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ Index, increased by 0.16 per cent partly contributed by increases in house rents which outweighed notable falls in the costs of kerosene and cooking gas.

Despite notable fall in the cost of diesel, the Transport Index increased by 0.37 per cent in October 2016 compared to September 2016 mainly on account of increases in the pump prices of petrol.

Inflation Rate in Kenya averaged 10.32 percent from 2005 until 2016, reaching an all time high of 31.50 percent in May of 2008 and a record low of 3.18 percent in October of 2010.

Read: Gradual Rise in Fuel Prices in 2016 Expected to Push Inflation Rate Higher