Kenya's Inflation Drops to 6.6% as Cost of Maize Flour and Milk Declines

 

Kenya's inflation dropped to 6.6% in December on account of declined costs of maize flour, milk and vegetables, this is according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). The cost of mangoes dropped in December. Photo: Esther Sweeney. Source: Getty Images Which items recorded increased prices? However, during the last year, there were increases in prices of commodities under transport (11.7%); housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (8.3%); and food and non-alcoholic beverages (7.7%) between December 2022 and December 2023. Prices of carrots, kale (sukuma-wiki), mutton/goat meat and beef with bones increased by 14.5, 6.2. 5.1 and 3.6%, respectively, between November 2023 and December 2023. "During the same period, however, prices of mangoes, potatoes, maize flour-sifted and fortified maize flour went down by 5.7, 4.9, 3.8 and 3.7%, respectively," the report stated. The cost of fresh, unpacketed cow milk dropped by 0.5%, while the price of sugar went down by 1.7%. Between November and December, there was a drop in the prices of petrol and diesel by 2.3% and 1% respectively. But since fares for most routes were increased by matatu operators, the transport index went up by 0.5% during the period.  Kenya's inflation reported a slight drop to 6.8% in November 2023, down from 6.9% recorded in October 2023. KNBS reported that the rate was driven by the rising cost of fuel and other items. The cost of transport went up by 13.6%, with electricity, gas and other fuels reporting an increase of 8.5%. Tomatoes, oranges, and wheat flour prices increased by 17.7%, 3.8% and 3.3%, respectively. Potatoes, maize flour-sifted, and cabbages reported a drop of 7.1%, 6.5% and 3.6% in prices during the same period under review. KNBS further reported that the price of 200 kWh and 50 kWh of electricity decreased by 1% and 1.2%, respectively. 

by  Japhet Ruto