When compared to month on month changes, NCPI in May 2018 has increased to 124.3 from 122.9 reported in April 2018. This shows an increase of 1.4 index points that is 1.1 percentage points in May 2018 as compared to April 2018. This month on month change was contributed by increases of expenditure value of food items by 0.55% and non-food items by 0.61% respectively.

The increases in expenditure value of food items were reported for vegetables, fresh fish, big onions, limes, potatoes, chicken, eggs, dried fish, green chilies, ginger, infant milk powder and milk powder. However, decreases in expenditure value of food items were reported for coconuts, banana, papaw, mangoes, garlic, rice and gram.

The increases in expenditure value of non-food items in May 2018 compared to the previous month was due to the expenditure value increases in groups of ‘Transport’, ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other fuels’, ‘Health’, ‘Miscellaneous Goods and Services’, ‘Recreation and Culture’, ‘Furnishings, Household equipment and Routing household maintenance’ and ‘Clothing and Footwear’. In the ‘Transport’ group expenditure value increase was mainly due to increase in prices fuel (petrol & diesel) with effect from 11 May, 2018 and in the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other fuels’ group expenditure value increase was mainly due to increase in prices of kerosene oil and LP Gas with effect from 11 May, 2018 and 28 April, 2018 respectively. However, decrease in expenditure value was reported for group of ‘Alcoholic beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics’ compared to the preceding month. Meanwhile, the expenditure value of ‘Communication’, ‘Education’ and ‘Restaurants & Hotels’ groups remained unchanged during the month.