Fresh data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has revealed a 3.3 percent increase in the cost of a 2-kilogram packet of wheat flour in November 2023 while the price of a similar amount of sifted maize flour fell by 6.5 percent during the same period.
By using the above statistics as a basis, a 2-kilogram packet of wheat flour, at Naivas supermarket for example, retailed from between Ksh.169 and Ksh.213 in November while an equivalent amount of maize meal sold for Ksh.155 to Ksh.235 depending on the maize flour brand.
The price of a kilogram of tomatoes and oranges likewise jumped by 17.7 and 3.8 percent respectively in the period while the cost of a kilogram of carrots increased by 2.7 percent compared to the previous month.Similarly, the cost of a kilogram of onions and beef with bones saw an uptick of 1.1 percent and 1.9 percent respectively in the review period.
Moreover, the prices of a kilogram of sukuma wiki, loose maize grain, cabbages and potatoes surged by 2.4 percent, 3.3 percent, 3.6 percent and 7.1 percent in November 2023.
The cost of non-food items such as a 50-kilogram bag of cement increased by 1.1 percent while the price of a 13-kilogram cooking gas cylinder amplified by 1.1 percent in November 2023.
A litre of diesel and kerosene retailed at 1 percent less in November while the price of 200 and 50 kilowatts of electricity decreased by 1 percent and 1.2 percent respectively during the period.
According to KNBS Director General Macdonald Obudho, the overall year-on-year inflation rate as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 6.8 percent, in November, mainly driven by increases in prices of commodities under Transport (13.6%); Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and other fuels (8.5%); and Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages (7.6%) between November 2022 and November 2023.
“The CPI increased by 0.2 percent from an index of 136.71 in October 2023 to 137.03 in November 2023. The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Index rose 0.4 percent between October and November. This was lower than the increase of 1.3 percent observed between September and October,” said Obudho in a statement to newsrooms.
“The Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ Index increased by 0.2 percent between October 2023 and November 2023, mainly on account of a 1.1 percent rise in the prices of both gas and cement. The Transport Index decreased slightly in the period mainly attributed to a drop in the price of diesel by 1 percent.”
