In a communiqué issued on National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), Dr. Amara Satharasinghe, Director General of Census and Statistics said that the Year on Year inflation based on NCPI has increased to 8.2% in February 2017 from 6.5% in January 2017. The reason for increase in inflation was due to the comparatively lower price levels prevailed in February 2016 (That is comparatively low price index was reported in February 2016.). In February 2016 contribution to the inflation from food group was -0.3% and non-food group was 2.0%. Nevertheless, in February 2017 contribution to the inflation from food group and non-food group are 4.5% and 3.8% respectively.
The increase in expenditure value of food commodity group in February 2017 compared to that of January 2017 was due to the price increases in coconuts, vegetables, coconut oil, fresh fish, green chilies, banana, mangoes, garlic and red onions. However, decreases in expenditure value in index were reported for rice, limes, potatoes, Mysore dhal, chicken, dried chilies and chili powder.
The increase in expenditure value of non food commodity group in February 2017 compared to the preceding month was due to the expenditure value increases in groups of Transport’, ‘Education’, ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other fuels’, 'Furnishing, Household equipment and Routine household maintenance' and ‘Miscellaneous Goods and Services’. However, expenditure value decreases were observed for groups of ‘Alcoholic beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics’ and ‘Recreation and Culture’. Further, very slight increases in expenditure value were reported for groups of ‘Restaurant and Hotels', ‘Clothing and Footwear’ and very slight expenditure value decrease was reported for group of ‘Health’ compared to the previous month. The expenditure value of ‘Communication’ group remains unchanged during the month.
