Consumer prices in Kenya jumped 10.28 percent year-on-year in March of 2017, following a 9.04 percent rise in the previous month. It was the highest inflation rate since May of 2012 mainly driven by increasing prices in food. Inflation Rate in Kenya averaged 10.23 percent from 2005 until 2017, reaching an all time high of 31.50 percent in May of 2008 and a record low of 3.18 percent in October of 2010.

Compared to March of 2016, prices rose faster for: food and non-alcoholic drinks (18.56 percent compared to 16.5 percent in February), housing and utilities (2.45 percent from 2.33 percent), transport (4.89 percent from 4.26 percent), furnishing and household equipment (3.1 percent from 3.04 percent), miscellaneous goods and services (3.64 percent from percent 3.34 percent) and restaurants and hotels (4.69 percent from 4.32 percent). Additional upward pressure came from clothing and footwear (4.17 percent from 4.32 percent) and alcoholic drinks, tobacco and narcotics (3.36 percent from 3.5 percent).

Month-on-month, consumer prices rose 1.67 percent following 1.72 percent gain in the previous month. Cost rose at a slower pace for food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.18 percent from 3.28 percent in the previous month), namely spinach, maize flour, milk, potatoes and maize grain, mainly driven by drought conditions. Meanwhile, cost continued to rise for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (0.69 percent from 0.4 percent) mainly due to increases in house rents, cooking fuels and water services.

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics | Deborah Neves | deborah.neves@tradingeconomics.com
3/31/2017 12:04:02 PM