Sri Lanka’s headline inflation as measured by the year-on-year change in the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI, 2013=100)1 increased to 5.0 per cent in September 2019 from 3.4 per cent in August 2019, Central Bank announced.
The monthly increases of prices of items in both Food and Non-food categories contributed to this increase as reflected in year-on-year Food and Non-food inflation recording 4.9 per cent and 5.1 per cent respectively in September 2019.
In addition, the low base that prevailed in the corresponding month of the previous year also contributed for this increase.
The change in the NCPI measured on an annual average basis increased to 2.3 per cent in
Within the Food category, prices of vegetable, rice and big onions recorded increases. Moreover, within the Non-Food category, prices of the items in Education; and Clothing and Footwear sub-categories increased during the month.
The core inflation, which reflects the underlying inflation in the economy, declined to 5.6 per cent in September 2019 from 5.9 per cent in August 2019 on year-on-year basis.
However, annual average core inflation increased to 5.2 per cent in September 2019 from 5.0 per cent in August 2019.
(LI)