KNBS: Cost of living remains flat in August

Kenya’s inflation was unchanged at 4.36 per cent in August from a month earlier, the statistics office said on Monday.

On a monthly basis, inflation was 0.20 per cent from 0.08 per cent in July, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement.

Food and Non-Alcoholic Drinks’ Index decreased by 1.01 per cent, while the year on year food inflation increased by 5.43 per cent, in August 2020. This resulted from decreases in prices of several food items outweighing the increases.

According to data released by the bureau, the prices of onions, tomatoes and spinach registered decreases of 16.38, 12.05 and 7.51per cent, respectively in August 2020 compared to July 2020.

However, during the same period, prices of beans, mangoes and peas increased by 2.17, 5.16 and 7.42 per cent, respectively.

During the review period, the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ Index, went up by 1.24per cent.

“This was mainly attributed to increase in cost of electricity and kerosene by 0.52per cent and 27.38 per cent, respectively.”

“The Transport Index increased by 2.11per cent over the same period, mainly due to increase in the pump prices of diesel and petrol by 2.97 per cent and 3.41 per cent, respectively.”