• Food inflation increases from 1.4 per cent to 1.5 per cent

By Rashida Rehmanjee  

Inflation in Colombo’s urban areas increased to 2.4 per cent in July from 1.7 per cent in June, according to the data released by the Department of Census and Statistics yesterday. 

The food inflation experienced a slight uptick, from 1.4 per cent to 1.5 per cent. Non-food inflation surged significantly, moving  from 1.8 per cent to 2.8 per cent, according to the department.  

Alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics saw a  considerable decline in inflation, falling from 31.7 per cent to 19.9 per cent in the corresponding month. Clothing and footwear recorded  deflation, dropping by 0.8 per cent in July compared to a 0.5 per cent increase in June. The housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuel categories showed an increase to -0.8 per cent from -5.3 per cent, according  to the data.  

 Health-related expenses continued to rise with inflation increasing to 3.3 percent from 2.1 percent. The inflation rate in the transport sector decreased to 5.4 per cent from 6.8 per cent.

The recreation and culture category as well as the education sector saw a reduction in inflation, dropping from 3.8 per cent to  2.1 per cent and falling from 11.5 per cent to 8.0 per cent,  respectively, according to the report.