Kathmandu, May 23

The y-o-y inflation as measured by the consumer price index increased by 7.5 per cent in mid-April 2012 as compared to 10.6 per cent in the same period of the previous year.

The index of food and beverage group and non-food and services group went up by 4.6 per cent and 10.1 per cent respectively during the first nine months of the current fiscal year, according to a Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) report.

These indices had increased by 17.3 per cent and 5.3 per cent respectively in the same period of previous year.

Region-wise, the price indices in the Hill increased by 8.4 per cent followed by Terai 7.8 per cent and the Kathmandu Valley 6.4 per cent during the review period. The respective increment rates were 11.9 per cent, 8.2 per cent and 12.9 per cent respectively in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The y-o-y wholesale price index increased by 6.6 percent during the review period compared to a rise of 11.5 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The wholesale price indices of imported commodities and domestic manufactured commodities increased by 14.3 per cent and 8.1 per cent whereas the index of agricultural commodities increased by 2.0 per cent during the review period.

Under the group of domestic manufactured commodities, the wholesale price indices of
food-related products and beverages and tobacco increased by 12.8 per cent and 7.1 per cent respectively during the review period, the repost said.

Similarly, the wholesale price index of construction materials increased by 6.1 per cent during the review period.

Within the imported commodities group, the wholesale price indices of petroleum products and coal and textile-related products increased by 27.8 per cent and 25.0 per cent respectively during nine month of the current fiscal year.

Meanwhile, the y-o-y salary and wage rate index increased by 21.3 per cent during the review period compared to an increase of 24.8 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year.