• Food inflation dropped from 49 percent to 42.3 percent and non-food inflation from 57.4 percent to 54.9 percent

The headline inflation came down to 49.2 percent in March from 53.6 percent in February this year, the Department of Census and Statistics said in its latest report released to the media yesterday.   

According to statistics, food inflation dropped from 49 percent to 42.3 percent and non-food inflation from 57.4 percent to 54.9 percent.   

The prices of food items such as rice, vegetables, fresh fish, potatoes, dhal, dry fish, chicken, chili powder, turmeric had come down in March compared to February. However, the prices of items such as coconut, eggs, coconut oil, green gram, rice flour and tea had increased, according to the statement.   According to the statement, in the non-food category, the prices of textiles, footwear and housing increased. Besides, the prices of utilities such as water and electricity also increased.   

From February 2023 the National Consumer Price Index has been updated for the new base year 2021= 100. Up to December 2022 the base year of the NCPI was 2013=100. The updated NCPI will be released monthly commencing from 21st February 2023 with a time lag of 21 days.  

The weights of the updated NCPI are based on consumer expenditure in 2019.