Inflation in August rises marginally to 4.4 per cent

The decreasing prices of some food commodities in August did not do enough to keep the inflation levels on a continued downward trend.

The latest figures by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) show the monthly measure of the cost of living increased marginally to 4.4 per cent. This is from the previous month's record of 4.3 per cent.

The rise puts a pause on the downward trend the measure had taken since the beginning of the year.

In particular, between July 2024 and August 2024, prices of tomatoes, spinach, onion leeks and bulbs and kale decreased by 12.0, 6.7, 5.6 and 4.6 per cent, respectively.

Conversely, during the same period, prices of potatoes (Irish), oranges and mangoes increased by 7.1, 3.2 and 2.6 per cent, respectively.

Generally, the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Index decreased by 0.7 per cent between July 2024 and August 2024.

The Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels Index increased by 0.3 per cent between July 2024 and August 2024, attributable to a rise in prices of 200 kWh of electricity and 50 kWh of electricity by 1.6 per cent and 1.8 per cent, respectively.

"Transport Index increased by 0.3 per cent mainly due to increase in prices of country bus fare," KNBS says.

"During the same period, prices of petrol and diesel remained unchanged."

Year-on-year, the 4.4 per cent inflation rate means the general price level was 4.4 per cent higher in August 2024 than it was in August 2023.

The price increase was mainly driven by the rise in prices of commodities under Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (5.3 per cent); Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and other fuels (4.2 per cent) and Transport (3.9 per cent) between August 2023 and August 2024.

The three divisions account for over 57 per cent of the total commodities consumed by households.